Fundraisers
Click on any of the above pictures to see a larger image
This has been a good year for the Ocracoke Fire Protection Association and the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department. Hurricane Sandy did minimal damage to the village as it passed off our coast. The fire department has been called 85 times. As of November 28, 2012 the department served the village residents and visitors by handling the following calls:
Boat Accidents………....……1
Ocean Rescue...…...……….2
Fires…………………….......…..5
Motor Vehicle Collisions.…1
Medical Responder…..…..54
Medivac Support……..…..22
OFPA is very proud of the eight firefighters who became state certified medical responders. They are trained to provide a much needed service to the community.
The 7th Annual Memorial Day Firemen’s Ball brought in $55,897.80 all of which went into the building fund. From December 01, 2010 to November 30, 2011 we have received $35,210.02 in donations. OFPA applied for and received a grant from NC Department of Insurance for $14,405.50 to purchase equipment for the department, which OFPA matched.
OFPA has continued to provide fire prevention education programs at the school and during the October Fire Prevention Open House. Monthly reminders are posted in the local newspaper about fire prevention, changing batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors twice a year, having a fire escape plan for homes and businesses, and keeping your home fire extinguishers up-to-date.
Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department
215 Back Road PO Box 332
Ocracoke, NC 27960
252-928-4692
E-Mail: OcracokeVFD@gmail.com
Copyright Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department 2009
Website by Dezisland Design
How can you Help?
Donate:
or
Click the donate button to use Paypal or your credit card through PayPal. It's safe & secure.
Nov. 30, 2012 Newsletter
OFPA plans to soon begin an education program on the placement of house numbers at each residence and business. As we say, If your house is on fire, we will be able to find you, but if you are experiencing a heart attack or stroke and by yourself, it may not be easy to find you if your house number is not out by the road and readily visible. We will be sending out further information on this subject at a later date.
OFPA continues to update equipment, see that regular training is provided to fire department members, and keep paperwork in order. This is all required to meet both state and federal requirements, plus it will be a requirement for the next state fire inspection of the department. It is important for the department to keep or improve its 6 insurance rating, so that your fire insurance will remain at a lower rate.
Your fire department is an all volunteer department. They are people you have met, talked with at the post office or coffee shop, or met at bingo or working in the village. They are members of the community who care about your safety and the protection of your property. They turn out no matter how bad the weather might be. You have shown your strong support for the Ocracoke Fire Department. You have made generous donations, purchased t-shirts, and participated in fundraisers. In order to operate at the current level of service and prepare for the future needs of the fire department, your continued support is needed.
OFPA has been raising money to build a new fire station since 2005. The Hutcherson family donated a much needed piece of property on Hwy.12. Thanks to seven years of successful Firemen’s Balls and other fundraising events, generous donations, t-shirt purchases, bingo participation and the financial support of the Ocracoke Occupancy Tax Board, OFPA has raised $1,000,000.00 towards the construction of the new station.
This past year, hundreds of hours have gone into fine tuning the station design, trying to create a building that will meet the department’s needs over the next 50 years. The architectural and engineering plans are complete. To finalize the figure of how much more money OFPA will need to start the construction work, companies in Eastern North Carolina have had the opportunity to look at the plans and give bids for the various jobs that will be required. When possible, local companies that have the licenses necessary for a building this size have been encouraged to place a bid to be considered. In the next few weeks, we should have the figures needed to apply for a loan to finish out the money needed for construction. With luck, we should be able to soon start construction in 2013. We have all permits but the building permit. That should soon be arriving.
OFPA would like to thank each and every one of you who have not only made this new building possible through your donations and hard work, but for your continued support in the coming years.
The Ocracoke Fire Protection Board:
Dick Jacoby, President
Ernie Doshier, Vice President
Janey Jacoby, Secretary
Teresa O’Neal, Treasurer
John Ferrara, Member-at-Large
Albert O’Neal, Fire Chief
