Jun 10

Jun 10 Ground breaking held for second Wyse Fork Fire Station

Wyse Fork Fire Department ground breaking. Photo: Kristy Bock/Neuse News

Wyse Fork Fire Department broke ground at 1155 Neuse Road in Kinston for their second fire station on Monday.

“Today is the groundbreaking on our station two for Wyse Fork department,” said Wyse Fork Chief Donnie Gray Jr. “It’s going to serve as an immediate resource to this area of our fire district.”

Gray hopes the building is completed in time for hurricane season.

“The significance of this station is that, in the last hurricanes that we've had, particularly Caswell Station Road and then Causey Road, have flooded and we've had to do a lot of boat rescues,” said Lenoir County Commissioner J. Mac Daughety.

The second station will enable Wyse Fork Fire Department to have a faster response time to the area near the new station.

“We have several members that stay on this side of the fire district,” said Gray. “It’s going to provide a more immediate and efficient response to this area.”

Prior to this station being built, firefighters that live in that area had to travel approximately two and a half miles to the station before bringing the necessary equipment back to the affected area.

“The nearest station before this is the Sand Hill on that end and Wyse Fork down there. Now we'll be able to respond quickly here and we'll be able to do if necessary water rescues in an area that is in low land and floods,” said Daughety.

Lenoir County has strike teams which consist of an ambulance, law enforcement, and fire department. The new station will enable the department to house the resources needed to respond.

“It just helps us protect our citizens better. It gives us broader coverage,” said Daughety.