41
“It’s knowing that if something happened, you’d
lay down your life to help them, if that’s what
it took, and that they’d do the same for you.”
Above: Lead Fire Equipment Operator Ray Thompson, left, Fire Equipment Operator
Sunnie Parker, the WBFD’s only female member, and Captain Robert Pugh comprise the
department’s B-shift. Below: Lt. Robert M. Wynn lost his life in the Doak Apartment fire
“like having a whole bunch of big brothers.”
Lieutenant Mike Chapman, president of the
Wrightsville Beach Volunteer Firefighters Association,
and a member of the department since the time that
Parker joined, says the differences between an all-volunteer
force and one that employs paid staff firefighters is
area specific.
“There are very strong and very weak departments,”
Chapman says. “It’s not so much about volunteers versus
career firefighters, as much as it is about where you
are. (The combination of the two) gives you the best of
both worlds; the extra personnel of a volunteer force,
and the rigidity of the paid structure.”
The chief is consistent and fair, Chapman furthers.
in1981. Later the town dock, Wynn Plaza, was dedicated in his memory.
www.wrightsvillebeachmagazine.com WBM
allison Potter
WBM file photo