GARNER – The Town of Garner and Garner Fire-Rescue, Inc., signed closing documents to finalize their consolidation at a ceremony at Garner Town Hall on June 30, culminating a years-long process that will make the nonprofit first-responder agency a Town department starting today (July 1).
The Town contracted with North Carolina Fire Chief Consulting in January 2021 to facilitate a review process and explore the possibility of forging a shared vision for the future of services in the fire district served by Garner Fire-Rescue that encompasses Garner and an unincorporated portion of southern Wake County.
The progress made on that work led to the Garner Town Council unanimously passing a resolution in May 2024 that proposed the unification of Garner Fire-Rescue with the Town. The Council unanimously approved a final merger agreement in March 2025.
“Garner Fire-Rescue is proud to become a municipal department in the Town of Garner. The consolidation of these two organizations will have a lasting, positive impact on first-responder delivery of services in the Garner fire district,” Garner Fire-Rescue Board of Directors President Joe Sample said.
Garner Fire-Rescue has operated as a private, non-profit corporation fire department that contracts with the Town and Wake County to provide services. It has existed as an independent, non-profit entity since its formation in 1952.
The first-responder agency is noted for its exceptional service. Garner Fire-Rescue received international accreditation from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International in July 2021. Only about 12 percent of the U.S. population is protected by an agency with this accreditation.
In September 2022, Garner Fire-Rescue reached another milestone when it attained the highest possible fire rating, improving from Class 2 to Class 1 within Town limits.
“Residents can continue to expect the same outstanding service from Garner Fire-Rescue once consolidation occurs,” Mayor Buddy Gupton said.
“The superior service delivery to the residents Garner Fire-Rescue currently serve will not be affected. Daily operational responses will remain seamless throughout the consolidation,” Mayor Gupton said. “Residents can be assured that we have come together in a new, more effective and efficient version of our existing organizations.”
The Town currently is responsible for approximately 58.48 percent of Garner Fire-Rescue’s overall funding in return for fire and rescue services within the Town’s corporate limits. Wake County provides approximately 41.52 percent of Garner Fire-Rescue’s funding for services in roughly 60 square miles of unincorporated area around Garner.
The consolidation will have no impact on the cost-share agreement or the methodology for determining the cost share with Wake County. In addition, there is no planned tax increase as a result of the unification since funding for Garner Fire-Rescue already has been a part of the Town budget.
Garner Fire-Rescue’s 86 employees become Town of Garner employees on July 1 with no reduction in staff. Personnel have been receiving onboarding training led by the Town’s Human Resources Department over the past few weeks leading up to the consolidation.
(Town of Garner News Release)
