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Friday, March 29, 2024

Interns provide key resources for WB fire department

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When the first alarm sounded for the fire burning King’s Beachwear at Johnnie Mercer’s Pier on April 29, a fully staffed engine of six firefighters rushed to the scene from the Wrightsville Beach fire station. Once on scene, the crew was able to start the initial fire attack and make other necessary preparations that ultimately helped keep the fire contained and prevented any injuries to the nearly 50 firefighters that responded.

The Wrightsville Beach Fire Department generally has only two firefighters on duty at any given time. But with the department’s internship program, a full crew was ready to go.

“That’s pretty typical to have interns staff the first call,” said Garrett McQueen, the program’s lead intern. “If you have a full engine, you can start all of the basic fire attack capabilities. You get the basic fire control established.”

For nearly 30 years, the department has hosted an internship program that lets students at University of North Carolina Wilmington or Cape Fear Community College live for free while getting training for first responder skills. Students in the program generally study at CFCC’s fire academy or UNCW’s criminology department.

With at least one spot in the program open, and potentially more once the summer semester ends, McQueen takes an active role.

Tucked away behind the kitchen is a series of seven dorms for the firefighters. Not unlike a college dormitory, the rooms come with bed, closet, table and little else. It’s where 22-year-old McQueen has lived for more than four years. McQueen is currently working toward a master’s degree in criminology from UNCW, a credential that will be valuable as he pursues his career goal of being a federal law enforcement officer.

Interns in the program learn a host of valuable first-responder skills. They must meet the same training requirements as the volunteer and part-time firefighters, including participating in three drills a month. They all receive EMT certification. Many will do part-time shifts as a lifeguard for Wrightsville Beach Ocean Rescue.

Like most interns in the program, McQueen isn’t from the area, having come here from Hamlet, North Carolina, a small town off Highway 74 halfway between Wrightsville Beach and Charlotte. Another intern, Kyle Miess, is from Indian Trail, North Carolina, and has been with the program for more than two years.

“A lot of us come from far off, so we needed this place for housing,” McQueen said. “It really helps us out.”

The program has room for seven interns, with six of those slots currently filled, but there have been summers when the program had just two. McQueen, who has experienced the benefit of the program, said the department is always looking for qualified candidates, which stretches beyond just a casual interest in being a firefighter.

Since interns live at the station, they have more limited social opportunities. They can’t bring alcohol to the station or have overnight visitors and are expected to be available for calls.

“It’s a challenging lifestyle,” McQueen said. “It definitely takes dedication from the individual. That’s what we look for: someone who is dedicated and wants to be here, not just someone looking for housing.”

Wrightsville Beach Fire Chief Glen Rogers said the program does afford some privacy and while the interns are all currently men, it could also accommodate women in the program. The program promotes unit cohesiveness similar to the military, Rogers said, offering a “win-win” that benefits both the department and the interns.

“These students are amped up to work for ocean rescue, to get firefighter training, to learn how to be a paramedic,” Rogers said. “It shows me how stoked they are to be protecting the public during emergencies.”

McQueen said the bonds he has built with the other firefighters, police and lifeguards is an important part of why he is enthusiastic about the intern program and excited to recruit new candidates.

“The friends that you make while you here, it’s really a big part of being here, it helps with the challenges,” he said.

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