Town of Wingate seeks Volunteer Fire Fighters
Delaney Smith, Staff Writer
On Wednesday, December 7, the Wingate Volunteer Fire Department held a ribbon cutting for the opening of their new station located on Wilson Street. The new building will also house Town Hall and provide more space to better serve the community.
“It’s an exciting time for the Wingate Volunteer Fire Department and the Town of Wingate. The fire department has been in its building since 1964. We look forward to this new and updated facility,” stated John Mangum, long time department member.
Members are moving equipment from the old station and will begin operating out of the new station this week. “After many years of waiting and wondering if a new fire station would ever be possible, we are excited to open our state of the art building,” said Assistant Fire Chief Blair Stegall.
The station’s new amenities which include a full kitchen, bedrooms and more living and meeting space will make this building more functional and user friendly. Fire Chief Travis Stegall explained that with the addition of bedrooms he is hopeful the station will be staffed 24 hours a day by July 1 greatly reducing their response rate at night. Currently, the station is staffed 7 days a week from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The current funding for fire protection in Wingate does not provide sufficient income for the department to pursue this type of venture on its own. Therefore, the Town of Wingate secured a low interest loan through the USDA to build the new station. The former fire station located on Main Street will now house the Wingate Police Department.
Chief Stegall invites visitors to drop by and tour the new station. Members of the community and college students are needed and welcome to join the department. The requirements are that one must be 18 years of age and a high school graduate; the department will provide the necessary training.
Assistant Chief Stegall concluded, “Thanks to this collaborative effort with the town of Wingate, the fire department will now have the space to grow and the ability to provide better service for the community we protect and serve. We are very excited and look forward to what the future will hold as we move in over the next few weeks.”
An official open house will be held in the spring.
Edited by: Sara Gunter
Wingate Triangle 