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Kill Devil Hills and Dare County officials cut the ribbon for the new facility for Dare County Emergency Medical Services and Kill Devil Hills Fire Department on Aug. 5, 2024. Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy photo

A great crowd gathered for the ribbon cutting of the new Dare County EMS station and the Kill Devil Hills Fire Department. On the first row is Kill Devil Hills Mayor John Windley joined by commissioner Terry Gray and spouse Jane Gray, and commissioner Ivy Ingram. Behind the dignitaries are three rows of family members of William E. “Bill” Gard, for whom the fire department building is named. Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy photo

The new fire station in Kill Devil Hills is dedicated to William E. “Bill” Gard. Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy photo

Making sure of a successful completion of the Dare County-Kill Devil Hills stations are John Smith with Barnhill Contracting Company, Tim Oakley with Oakley Collier Architects, and David Clawson, Dare County finance director. Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy photo

Daughters of William E. “Bill” Gard, Janet Gard McQueen (left) and Susan Gard Nelson. Susan Nelson spoke during the ceremony. Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy photo

The new Kill Devil Hills fire truck bay has doors on both sides for quick response. Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy photo

The KDHFD Training Room is dedicated to late Assistant Fire Chief Tommy Lee. Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy photo

The KDHFD Training Room is dedicated to late Assistant Fire Chief Tommy Lee. Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy photo

KDH exercise room explored by attendees at the ribbon cutting. Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy photo

Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy photo

The Emergency Medical Services administration wing houses chief, two deputy chiefs, training captain, billing specialist, assistant to chiefs and medical directors. Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy photo

Scattered throughout both fire department and emergency medical services areas were employees of Dare and Kill Devil Hills staffers giving brochures and other goodies to go in provided bags. Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy photo

Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy photo

Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy photo

A new emergency services facility in Kill Devil Hills was opened Monday, Aug. 5, 2024.

It’s a state-of-the-art facility for Dare Emergency Medical Services Administration and Station 1 and the Kill Devil Hills Fire Department Station 14.

“Beautiful” was used to describe the exterior and interior of the building.

A crowd filled the Emergency Medical Services bay that will hold three ambulances, other vehicles, and a medical response trailer. Most of the 200 chairs were filled and around 70 more people stood in the back for the speeches.

This is a partnership project with Dare County and the Town of Kill Devil Hills working together to build the outstanding facility. “What a great partnership it was,” said Dare County Board of Commissioners Chairman Robert L. Woodard.

The facility replaces outdated, over-crowded, functionally obsolete buildings five decades old.

Kill Devil Hills Mayor John Windley called the ribbon-cutting “a monumental moment for the town.” He called attention to the spacious living quarters in the fire station and new equipment. A training room is ready, as is an exercise room. Two rooms are fitted with bunk beds. Eight rooms are single occupancy. No waking up to a snoring partner!

The fire station is dedicated to William E. “Bill” Gard, who served the town for 30 years. He joined as a volunteer firefighter in 1964 and became the volunteer fire chief. In 1986, he became the town’s first paid fire chief. He retired in 1994. The new fire station was dedicated on what would have been Gard’s 93rd birthday, Aug. 5.

Gard’s daughter Susan Gard Nelson was the event’s last speaker. She said “His love of the fire department certainly involved the rush of the emergency, the excitement of the challenge; but, to Dad the importance of knowledge, skill, and safety became integral to the job. Once he became the fire chief of the department (volunteer at that time) he never left the town commissioners alone. He wanted the best equipment and the newest trainings for himself and his firefighters.”

Also speaking at the ceremony were Jennie Collins, Dare County Emergency Medical Services director, and Kill Devil Hills Fire Chief Troy Tilley.

At the start of the program, Cherri Wheeler, chaplain for Dare Emergency Medical Services, dedicated the building to the service of the community. “Now bless this building and those who serve from it.”

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