Firefighters contained a residential structure fire in the Deep Creek community Tuesday, Feb. 24, preventing major structural damage and reporting no injuries.
Chief Charles Bryson said crews were dispatched at 9:51 p.m. and arrived within four minutes to find the home’s laundry room fully involved, with flames extending into the kitchen and heavy smoke venting from the attic.
Firefighters quickly brought the blaze under control before it spread further.
Bryson credited the rapid response in part to the fire occurring on a regular meeting night, when several firefighters were already at the station.
He said response times on other weeknights, weekends or holidays average closer to 15 minutes and that the outcome could have been far worse under different circumstances.
In a statement posted to social media, Bryson reiterated the need for around-the-clock staffing to ensure faster response times for rescues and property protection.
“The bottom line is we critically need firefighters in the station 24/7 to ensure we can get apparatus to the scene in sufficient time to make rescues and save property,” said Bryson.
Funding decisions by the Swain County Board of Commissioners will play a key role in determining whether 24/7 station coverage can be implemented.
“The State of North Carolina has straightforward solutions on how to fund your community fire departments in part to provide 24/7 staffed coverage for the average of the price of a cup of coffee a month to the average property owner,” Bryson said. “We need leaders who will take the time to educate themselves on the threat to the community and take common sense steps to move us forward.”
The department also thanked assisting agencies, including EBCI Cherokee Fire and Rescue, West Swain Fire Department, Alarka Volunteer Fire Department, Qualla Fire & Rescue, Swain County EMS, the Swain County Sheriff’s Office and county 911 telecommunicators.