Business Office
The business office coordinates general office activities and supports each of the divisions within the West Buncombe Fire Department.
Staff
The business office is staffed by one business manager and one office assistant. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Responsibilities
- Data management
- Administrative Support to the Fire Chief
- Human Resources
- Accounts Payable/Receivable
- Payroll
- Benefits
- Logistics
- External, 3rd party Financial Auditing Coordination
The business office can be reached by phone at 828-254-7387. The email for all accounts payable/receivable is accounting@wbfd.org
Operations
The Operations Division responds to fires, medical emergencies, auto accidents, odor investigations, gas leaks, hazardous materials incidents, technical rescues, and wildland fires.
Staff
The division is staffed by one Assistant Chief, three Captains, six Lieutenants, and 18 full-time firefighters, all of whom are Paramedics, Advanced EMTs, or EMTs. The full-time staff is supplemented by 20 part-time firefighters and 35 volunteers. The Operations Division delivers direct emergency and nonemergency services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to residents of West Buncombe and surrounding areas.
The Operations Division also manages the department’s ISO program, vehicle maintenance, communications equipment, district preplanning, community wildfire preplanning, and fire prevention program. The West Buncombe Fire Department is dispatched by the Buncombe County Communications Center.
The Operations Chief can be reached by phone at 828-254-7387 or by email at jared.gudger@wbfd.org
Safety & Training
The Training Division develops, coordinates, delivers and manages training and education to ensure personnel are fully prepared to effectively, efficiently, and safely respond to service calls.
Staff
The Training Division is staffed by one Assistant Chief.
Responsibilities
The Training Division works with the Operations Division to coordinate and deliver monthly training for firefighting, technical rescue, basic and advanced life support, and emergency medical services.
Our firefighters all complete a variety of training and education programs, including:
- Basic and advanced fire suppression tactics (including structural, vehicle and willdland firefighting)
- Fire service vehicle operations
- Technical rescue technician level training (trench, confined space, vehicle, and rope rescue, and structural building collapse)
- Leadership and fire officer development
The Training Division also oversees and manages the department’s occupational safety program, firefighter physicals, and incident scene safety.
The Training Chief can be reached by phone at 828-254-7387 or by email at
Volunteer Operations
The West Buncombe Fire Department offers community members the opportunity to give back by volunteering as a firefighter or junior firefighter. To be a volunteer firefighter, you must live within the West Buncombe Fire District or in an area that does not offer a volunteer program. Junior Firefighters must be at least 14 years old and have a parent’s permission to join. Generally, Junior Firefighters aged 14 & 15 do not respond to calls.
Staff
The Volunteer program is staffed by volunteers and is managed by an Assistant Chief, Captain, and a Lieutenant.
Those who are interested in volunteering should contact Captain Jeff Cole, or visit the recruitment section here.