09/24/2026
🚒🚨 Investing Locally! Potential National Impacts!🚨🚒
Today, the Swansboro Fire Department and Swansboro Police Department were honored to recognize funding secured for our community through the efforts of North Carolina Representative Wyatt Gable.
Representative Gable represents District 14 in Onslow County, and we are grateful for his willingness to listen to local emergency-service leaders, understand the challenges facing our responders, and advocate for resources that strengthen public safety.
This ceremonial check represents much more than a photograph. It represents equipment, protection, research, and increased capabilities for the people we serve.
So, what will the funding accomplish?
1️⃣ Watercraft Replacement (Fire)
2️⃣ Portable Radios & Communication Equipment (Police)
3️⃣ Structural Firefighting Gear (Fire)
4️⃣ Firefighter Cancer Prevention, Decontamination & Research (Fire)
Perhaps the most far-reaching portion of this investment will strengthen our ability to remove firefighters from contaminated gear on scene, improve decontamination and cleaning processes, and study how those practices affect the protective equipment itself.
We have been in contact with NC State’s Wilson College of Textiles regarding research into how repeated fireground exposure, cleaning, and decontamination affect the service life of structural firefighting ensembles. The research could help examine whether current cancer-reduction best practices impact gear longevity, agency replacement costs, residual contamination, and ultimately whether the traditional 10-year replacement timeframe warrants further evaluation. What we learn locally could help protect firefighters far beyond Swansboro.
🎗️ As September—Lymphoma Awareness Month—comes to a close, that mission carries special meaning for our department.
Cancer has affected numerous members of our fire service family. Chief Randall is a cancer survivor and has watched two uncles, both fire services connected, battle the disease. Just a few weeks ago, his uncle, Mark Randall, a retired Raleigh Fire Lieutenant and retired Fuquay-Varina Fire Chief, passed away following a long and courageous battle with lung and brain cancer. So, what we study today has the potential to help save lives tomorrow!
Representative Gable’s support also extends throughout our region, with funding secured for Onslow County Fire Rescue (Bear Creek), Hubert Volunteer Fire Department, Piney Green Volunteer Fire Department, Maysville Fire & EMS, and the City of Jacksonville Fire Department.
Representative Gable, thank you for listening, asking questions, and taking the time to understand the needs of our responders and communities. Most importantly, thank you for advocating for resources that will be put directly to work improving public safety and firefighter health.
From the men and women of the Swansboro Fire Department and Swansboro Police Department, thank you!
One Team! One Fight! 🚒🚔
