The Fire Department provides Emergency Medical Services (EMS) at the EMT-basic level. The only recent change is that Paramedic-level service is now fully deferred to Brunswick County, who already has the established responsibility to provide medical services at that level. By realigning Fire Department staffing to the EMT-basic level, it no longer requires our firefighters to be in use when responding to non-life threating calls (note: with some exceptions), and allows staff to focus more heavily on Basic Lifesaving services.

The largest portion of medical-related calls are for Basic Lifesaving needs; for which EMT-basics provide the initial lifesaving services like CPR, Narcan administration, breathing treatments, and hemorrhage control. 

Additionally, not requiring the higher paramedic certification greatly expands the available field of employee candidates, as Firefighter EMTs are more common than Firefighter Medics. The Town does not want to risk compromising the Fire Department’s primary responsibility of responding to fires, because there is a lack of available staff due to unnecessarily high medical certification requirements.

With the Emergency Medical Dispatching (EMD) currently use in Brunswick County, 9-1-1 calls are prioritized and dispatch the appropriate resources when they are needed, where they are needed. The Oak Island Fire Department continues to offer fire response / heavy rescue / and EMT-basic level service in a courteous, professional manner.

Yes. Fire pits are allowed according to Town Ordinance Section 24-68 does allow for "heating and/or cooking devices manufactured and approved for outdoor use when used in accordance with the manufacturers operating guide." 

Among the regulations established in Section 24-68, fire pits must:

• Be designed in a manner to restrict spread of fire to surrounding flammable materials, e.g., grasses, weeds, bushes, etc. The use of brick or masonry block surrounding the fire pit is recommended.
• Maintain a setback a minimum of 15 feet from any structure or ten feet from any property line.
• Have a nearby pressurized water source, five-gallon bucket of water, or 2A fire extinguisher (minimum size) to extinguish all fires.
• Constantly attended until the fire is extinguished.
• Have all efforts made to minimize the amount of smoke and odors produced by the device from impacting neighbor's properties.
• Be the responsibility of the property owner or legal tenant to ensure the proper extinguishments of all fires.

CLICK HERE to read the Section 24-68 in full

YES. The Brunswick County Ordinance Section 1-11-47-B-1-C states that, among other requirements burning is only allowed when the "burning does not create a nuisance."

If your fire is deemed to be a nuisance by the responding Fire Department or Law Enforcement staff, they can require you to put out the fire.

YES. All burning permits may be revoked at any time by any authorized Emergency Services personnel (fire, rescue, police or code enforcement officer) due to weather conditions, unsafe practices, permit violations, or any observed activity that creates or contributes to hazardous situations.

We can install battery-powered smoke alarms only. They are not supplied by the department. To schedule installation, call 910-278-1000.

No. According to Town Ordinance Section 24-68: "Burning of solid waste is prohibited in all areas within the town limits; solid waste for this purpose includes, but is not limited to, refuse, recyclable material, white goods, brown goods, leaves, yard debris, yard debris created from lot clearing, cardboard, and all paper goods including newspapers, magazines, books, office paper products, etc." 

Illegally burning solid waste within the Town limits poses a significant health and fire hazard, and can be subject to citation, including fines.   

The Yard Debris Collection Schedule is provided by the Public Works Department at www.OakIslandNC.gov/YardDebris. Additionally, yard debris may be disposed of at the Brunswick County Landfill, or any of the convenience sites provided by Brunswick County Solid Waste & Recycling. Information on these options is available at: https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/solid-waste-and-recycling/landfill/

NO, As noted in Town Ordinance Section 24-68, "Burning of solid waste is prohibited in all areas within the town limits."

The Town of Oak Island provides regular curbside yard debris collection from the public right of way. The collection schedule can be found on the Yard Debris Collection page of the Town Website at www.OakIslandNC.gov/YardDebris.

Full details on the type of burn / fire pits allowed within the Town limits can be viewed in Town Ordinance Section 24-68, but generally include:

• Any type of commercial chimenea being used by the manufactured recommendations, with spark arrestor in place 
• A man-made burn pit for keeping warm or cooking being no bigger than 4ft by 4ft in size, with the material being burned being no more that 4ft high.  It must be a minimum of 15 feet from ANY structure and at least 10 feet from the property line.   

When using an outdoor fire pit, make sure to adhere to all necessary safety precautions.

• The Hazards of Backyard Burning
• Breathe, Don't Burn!