The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1954-12-31
Single Copy IL
ROANOKE ISLAND
| NEEDING GREATER
FIRE PROTECTION
Support and Encouragement
Demanded by Present
Property Growth

for fire fighting unit that can be
effective in case of a bad fire. The
rapid growth of property on this
island, the growing congestion of
homes, makes any fire threat more
costly and disastrous each year.
For many years the people of
Roanoke Island have grown to de-
pend on the Manteo Fire Depart
ment to aid in case of a fire. For
some II years, a tax collected from
Roanoke Island taxpayers has been
paid over to the town of Manteo
to assist it's fire department, to
buy a new truck. In all from $751;
900 to $4,000 has been paid into
the town funds.
The town of Manteo is likewise
in the same fix as Roanoke Island,
and needs fire fighting equipment
and men, perhaps worse, because
houses are closer together in town.
Fortunately the town has a water
system, and since it has been in
stalled, the limited fire department
has managed it we'll. Not a home
has been burned down since this
system was installed in the town,
about 81 years ago.
The Manteo Fire Department
consists of a volunteer company.
At one time there were about %
active young men taking part in
the work. AS the years have rollel
on, some have died, some moved
away, some have grown much old
er, and some are in employment
that prevents their participation an
time of fires. Ivey Evans is the
fire chief and a good hand at
fighting fires, and he has given a
lot of time to the work. But the
department has shrunk until there
is mere handful of men ready at
the first alarm to bolt to a fire.
Three readily come to mind who
are the most faithful of the lot:
Raymond Wescott, Edwin Midget
and George Greet. There are prob
ably others, but these are usually
seen along with the chief at every
fire.
A review of the property that
has been saved by this depart
ment, including Mays Head beach
and even Currituck County will
run into several hundred thousand
dollars in value. Amazing it is
when we consider that these men
do the work without pay, and in
fact, they seldom get any sign of
appreciation. People take fire serv-
ice as a matter of course, and new
er give it a thought that the fire
men have dropped their work, US
ually at considerable personal loss,
and are going to fight fire for other
people, who in many cases do not
help and in other cases hinder the
work.
1t is not reasonable to expect
any group of men to work a long
time for nothing. Nor is it reason
able to expect fire fighting service
without an expenditure for equip
ment and operation. This is what
the people must soon face, and
work out plans for equipment to
replace what is now either made
quate or obsolete. At any rate it
is not sufficient.
Important still is the need for a
plan to create interest among those
who would be members Of a fire
company. In many towns, the fire
men organize into an enjoyable,
social, or semi-fraternal organiza-
ton. In this town, features that
usually belong to the fire depart
ment are found only in number
of other organizations.
1t is high time that those who
would benefit by their services
should plan for the future SO that
there will be some rewards for
these free hearted fellows who
work for the public. In this age no
one man should give all, in order
that some others may receive all.
| Fire Chief Ivey Evans says he
thinks a meeting will be called
early in January to discuss these
problems. If it is, the whole COM
munity should turn out, and help
do a good job for the future.