Pender EMS & Fire

What Pender EMS & Fire does

Pender EMS and Fire, Inc. is a North Carolina nonprofit that operates as the integrated public safety agency for Pender County, providing Advanced Life Support emergency medical services, fire suppression, technical rescue, and special operations across the county's 933 square miles. The organization is headquartered at Station 1 in Burgaw and operates a network of 14 stations spanning Burgaw, Hampstead, Topsail Beach, Surf City, Rocky Point, Atkinson, Maple Hill, Willard, Wilmington, Currie, and unincorporated Pender County. Service capabilities are organized into four operational divisions (EMS, Fire, Rescue, and Special Operations) plus a Training Division and a Billing & Records unit; specialized teams include PENSAR (search and rescue), Swiftwater Rescue, Dive Team, Marine Operations, a UAS Drone Unit launched in 2019, SMAT III (State Medical Assistance Team), and Tactical Medics embedded with the Pender County Sheriff's Office. The organization is staffed by 132 full-time and 60 part-time employees supplemented by volunteers, and serves 62,000 year-round residents plus a seasonal influx of more than 300,000 tourists along Topsail Island. Operations are coordinated with the Pender County Emergency Operations Center, Office of Emergency Management, and Fire Marshal Office, all co-located at the headquarters.

The EMS Division runs eight paramedic-staffed ambulances, two Quick Response Vehicles, and one Bariatric Transport unit across nine response districts, with transport billing outsourced to EMS Management & Consultants. The Fire Division operates 7 Class A Engines, 2 Ladder Trucks, 1 Heavy Rescue, 5 Tankers, 5 Wildland Urban Interface vehicles, and multiple marine units, covering structural firefighting, wildland response, auto extrication, technical rescue, and ocean/river rescue. The Training Division holds accreditation as an NCDOI Delivery Agency, NCOEMS Continuing Education Institution, and AHA Teaching Center, with a state-of-the-art 3-story, 27-foot live-burn training tower at Station 28. Supporting functions include community public education programs (CPR, First Aid, AED use, fire prevention) and an AED placement program that has placed units in police cars, schools, and public buildings.

Pender EMS and Fire is funded primarily through county government appropriations as a municipal-style service provider, with supplemental revenue from EMS transport billing and training/education fees. Distribution is exclusively through the 911 emergency dispatch system covering Pender County, with no commercial channel. The organization has previously operated under the name "Pender Volunteer EMS and Rescue Inc." and rebranded to reflect its evolution into a combined paid fire-EMS-rescue agency. Notable operational milestones include its role in Hurricane Florence evacuations in 2018 using its marine fleet and the buildout of the drone unit in 2019.

Name

Pender EMS & Fire

Legal name

Pender EMS and Fire, Inc.

Website

https://penderemsandfire.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Pender EMS and Fire is a North Carolina nonprofit that provides integrated Advanced Life Support EMS, fire suppression, rescue, and special operations services to 62,000 residents and 300,000+ seasonal visitors across 933 square miles of Pender County through 14 stations and 192 paid staff.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Emergency Medical Services

NAICS

Fire Protection (92216), Ambulance Services (62191), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIAGAB

Fire & Rescue Services (Fire Suppression, Rescue)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Law Enforcement & Public Safety (Police, Fire, EMS)

SECONDARYBPAIAGAC

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) & Ambulance Services

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Law Enforcement & Public Safety (Police, Fire, EMS)

SECONDARYHLAFANAA

911/Public EMS Agencies (Municipal/County/Fire-Based)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Healthcare Providers & Systems/Emergency Medical Services

SECONDARYHLAJAGAC

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Operations & Dispatch

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Emergency Preparedness, Disaster Response & EMS Coordination

Keywords

• Emergency medical services
• Fire protection services
• Search and rescue
• Advanced life support
• Public safety response

Headquarters

HQ city

Burgaw

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Emergency Medical Transport Services: Revenue generated from emergency EMS transport services billed through third-party administrator EMS Management & Consultants. Services provided to all county residents via 911 emergency response.
2. Public Education Programs: Community education programs including fire prevention, CPR, First Aid, and AED use offered in schools, churches, and civic organizations throughout Pender County.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Pender EMS and Fire, Inc. is a nonprofit emergency services organization providing Advanced Life Support EMS, fire suppression, crash rescue, and search and rescue across 933 square miles of Pender County, North Carolina. The organization operates 14 staffed stations with 8 paramedic ambulances, fire engines, ladder trucks, marine vessels, and specialized rescue units, serving 62,000 year-round residents plus seasonal tourists. Services are accessed exclusively through 911 dispatch, with patient billing handled by third-party administrator EMS Management & Consultants.

Product overview

Pender EMS and Fire Inc. is a public safety emergency services organization providing a comprehensive, integrated suite of emergency response services across 933 square miles of Pender County, North Carolina. The organization operates as a multi-divisional emergency services agency with the EMS Division providing Advanced Life Support paramedic-level ambulance services, the Fire Division delivering fire suppression and technical rescue capabilities, and the Rescue Division operating Heavy Rescue trucks, dive teams, swiftwater rescue, and marine operations. Specialized capabilities include PENSAR (search and rescue), UAS/drone unit, State Medical Assistance Team (SMAT III), and Tactical Medics in partnership with the Sheriff's Office. Supporting infrastructure includes an accredited Training Division and community public education programs. The organization maintains 14 stations across the county staffed by 132 full-time and 60 part-time employees plus volunteers, serving 62,000 year-round residents and a seasonal influx of over 300,000 tourists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EMS Division Advanced Life Support emergency medical services staffed by Paramedic-level crews operating 8 ambulances, 2 Quick Response Vehicles, and 1 Bariatric Transport Ambulance across nine response districts in Pender County, available through 911 dispatch.
• Fire Division Fire suppression and rescue services including structural firefighting, wildland firefighting, auto extrication, technical rescue, and marine rescue operations, equipped with 7 Class A Engines, 2 Ladder Trucks, 1 Heavy Rescue, 5 Tankers, 5 Wildland Urban Interface vehicles, 2 ICWW marine units, 2 River Response marine units, 2 Air Boats, and 1 ATV.
• PENSAR (Pender Search and Rescue) Land and urban search and rescue team trained to track and locate lost persons, including children and elderly with dementia, deployed across Pender County and available for state-wide assistance upon request.
• Swiftwater Rescue Team Highly trained team for rescuing people from fast-moving water during flooding events, equipped with ropes, harnesses, pulleys, floatation devices, paddle boats, and motored boats.
• Rescue Dive Team Water rescue and recovery team trained for operations in ponds, rivers, the Intracoastal Waterway, and offshore environments, with team members certified for deep dives, mixed gas diving, and emergency diver rescue.
• Marine Operations Fleet of boats ranging from high-powered amphibious fan boats to small aluminum Jon boats used for water rescue, evacuation, and disaster response operations.
• UAS Drone Unit Unmanned Aircraft System drone unit initiated in 2019 for aerial reconnaissance supporting rescue operations, structure fires, and search operations, with all pilots holding Part 107 FAA certification.
• State Medical Assistance Team (SMAT III) Operational SMAT III team deployable anywhere in the state during disasters or major events, trained to NC Office of EMS standards and equipped with a trailer supporting multiple-day deployments.
• Tactical Medics Tactical medical support provided in partnership with Pender County Sheriff's Office Special Response Team, staffed by medics certified as EMT-Tactical and NC Certified Paramedics.
• Rescue Division Crash rescue and technical rescue services operating two Heavy Rescue trucks certified for heavy rescue operations, providing Ocean Rescue with rescue swimmers, Flat Water, and Swift Water Rescue capabilities.
• Mobile Command Post Mobile command vehicle staffed with Fire, EMS, Emergency Management, and Law Enforcement personnel for Search and Rescue Operations or Mass Casualty Incidents.
• Training Division Accredited teaching institution providing continuing education for operational divisions, accredited as NCDOI Delivery Agency, NCOEMS Continuing Education Institution, and AHA Teaching Center, with a regional training center at Station 28 featuring a 3-story, 27-foot live-burn training tower.
• Public Education Programs Community education programs including Fire prevention, CPR, First Aid, and AED use training offered in schools, churches, and civic organizations, including an AED placement program in police cars, schools, and public buildings credited with saving lives.
• Billing & Records Services Patient billing handled through third-party partner EMS Management & Consultants (reachable at 800-814-5339), with medical records requests processed through standardized authorization forms via in-person, email, fax, or US mail submission.

Quantifiable outcome

• AED program placement in police cars, schools, and public buildings has saved lives

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EMS Management & ConsultantscoreOthersThird-party billing company contracted to handle patient billing for EMS services. Located at EMS Management & Consultants, patients can call 800-814-5339 for billing inquiries.
• Pender County Sheriff's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPender EMS and Fire partners with Pender County Sheriff's Office to provide Tactical Medics for their Special Response Team. Each Tactical Medic must pass rigorous testing and be certified as EMT-Tactical and NC Certified Paramedic.
• Black River Health CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough cooperation with Black River Health Center, Pender EMS is enabled to staff a full transport truck in the far western portion of Pender County. Remodeling of space at the health center and construction of an ambulance bay improved EMS response times.
• NC Office of EMScoreOthersFire, EMS, and Rescue Divisions have been granted Teaching Institute status from the North Carolina Office of EMS.
• NC Department of InsurancecoreOthersFire, EMS, and Rescue Divisions have been granted Teaching Institute status from the North Carolina Department of Insurance.
• Pender County Emergency Operations CentercoreOthersCo-located at Station 1 headquarters. Pender County Office of Emergency Management and Pender County Fire Marshal Office also headquartered at this location.
• NCDOI (North Carolina Department of Insurance)coreOthersAccredited NCDOI Delivery Agency for training division.
• NCOEMS (North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services)coreOthersAccredited NCOEMS Continuing Education Institution for training division.
• AHA (American Heart Association)coreOthersAHA Teaching Center - accredited to teach CPR and related certifications.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Medical Response (AMR): Largest private ambulance provider in the U.S. operating 911 and interfacility transport contracts nationwide. Comparable core offering (ALS ambulance transport) at commercial scale.
• Wake County EMS: Larger North Carolina county public EMS agency with paramedic-level response and integrated 911 dispatch. Provides scale benchmark for county EMS operations in NC.
• Mecklenburg County EMS Agency (Medic): NC's largest urban 911 EMS agency (Charlotte-Mecklenburg). Provides an incumbent benchmark for advanced-life-support county EMS delivery at significant scale.
• Falck USA: International emergency medical and patient transport services operator with significant U.S. ambulance operations. Comparable broad-spectrum EMS service model.

Direct peers

• Horry County Fire Rescue: South Carolina coastal county providing all-hazards fire, EMS, and rescue across a large geographic service area with heavy seasonal tourist exposure (Myrtle Beach). Closest analog by combined scope and tourism mix.
• Priority Ambulance: Privately held ambulance company providing 911, interfacility, and specialty transport across multiple states. Comparable ALS transport service model with mid-sized regional footprint.
• Onslow County Emergency Services: NC coastal county operating combined fire and EMS with military-community and beach-tourism population dynamics. Directly comparable service-mix and station-distribution model.
• New Hanover County Fire Rescue: Adjacent North Carolina coastal county providing combined fire suppression, EMS, and technical rescue services to a population that includes a significant tourist surge. Direct comparability on service-mix, geography, and operational structure.
• Brunswick County Emergency Services: Neighboring NC coastal county operating combined EMS and fire services with similar seasonal tourism-driven call volume. Comparable agency size and rural-coastal coverage profile.

Regional players

• Charleston County EMS: South Carolina coastal county EMS agency serving the Lowcountry with combined urban-rural and tourist-population profile. Comparable coastal-EMS operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqQ0vDCir84EXXF7bbLwhQA
• Facebookfacebook.com/PenderEmsFire
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pender-ems-and-fire-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pender EMS & Fire