The Moore County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to dissolve the Moore County Fire Commission, ending the advisory body’s 12-year role in helping guide fire service planning, budgeting and capital improvements across the county.
Commissioners approved the resolution during their July 21 meeting, officially dissolving the Fire Commission effective immediately while recognizing its members for their years of service and contributions since the commission was established in 2014.
According to the resolution, the Fire Commission played a key role in implementing portions of the 2013 Volunteer Firemen’s Insurance Services (VFIS) study, developing the annual Rural Fire Protection Service District budget, creating long-term capital improvement and equipment replacement plans for county fire departments, and helping improve Insurance Services Office (ISO) ratings throughout Moore County.
The resolution also states that, during recent budget cycles, including development of the Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget, the Board of Commissioners and county administration have worked more directly with individual fire chiefs and the Moore County Fire Chiefs’ Association on operational and capital needs.
Moving forward, county leaders said they intend to continue meeting with the Moore County Fire Chiefs’ Association during odd-numbered months while also working directly with individual fire chiefs when appropriate.
The resolution does not cite any concerns with the Fire Commission’s performance. Instead, it thanks current and former members for their service and recognizes the commission’s contributions to improving fire protection services throughout Moore County.
Southern Pines Fire Chief Mike Cameron said the Fire Commission was created at an important time for the county’s fire service and credited it with helping move fire protection forward.
“When the County Commissioners started the commission, it was the right thing at the right time to move fire protection forward in Moore County,” Cameron told Moore County News.
Cameron said the long-term effects of dissolving the commission remain uncertain.
“Only time will tell the impact of resolving the Fire Commission,” he said.
He also questioned whether enough input was gathered before the decision was made.
“It could seem that this decision is being made in a vacuum without a lot of input,” Cameron said.
While Cameron said he believes the current Board of Commissioners is committed to working with local fire departments, he expressed concern about maintaining a consistent process as future boards take office.
“I think this may work fine with the current commissioners, which have committed to work with the fire departments, but the long-range impacts are yet to be determined,” he said.
Cameron noted that many volunteer fire departments have served Moore County communities for generations, while county commissioners change over time.
“Many of the fire departments have been here for 100 years and are going to continue to be here, but the commissioners will rotate off the board,” Cameron said. “We do not want to continually be in flux by having to create a new system for funding and support every four years.”
The Fire Commission was established in 2014 and, according to the resolution adopted Tuesday, assisted with implementing recommendations from the 2013 VFIS study, annual fire district budget planning, capital improvement planning and efforts that helped improve ISO ratings for fire departments throughout Moore County.
A Moore County native who has spent more than 20 years telling stories across North Carolina and beyond. He’s worked with CNN, WRAL, and CBS 17, and now serves as a Video Journalist for ABC11. Patrick has a passion for breaking news and has earned multiple awards for his coverage. He’s also a certified NWS SKYWARN Storm Spotter and was among the first news videographers in the state to become an FAA-certified drone pilot.
