Welcome to Manns Harbor Fire Department
Welcome to the Manns Harbor Volunteer Fire Department, proudly serving the communities of Manns Harbor, Mashoes, and East Lake on the Dare County Mainland.
Our service area may be spread out, but our communities are close-knit. From quiet neighborhoods and local businesses to highways, waterways, forests, and miles of rural landscape, we are prepared to respond wherever help is needed.
Our volunteers answer calls for fires, medical emergencies, vehicle accidents, rescues, severe weather, and plenty of situations that do not fit neatly into a category. We also work throughout the year to train, maintain our equipment, support local events, and help our neighbors prepare before an emergency occurs.
We are proud to be part of the community we protect, and we could not do this work without the continued support of the people who live, work, and travel here. Whether you have called the Dare County Mainland home for generations, recently moved to the area, or are simply passing through, we are glad you are here, and we will be here when you need us.
About Us: A Brief History of the Manns Harbor Volunteer Fire Department
Founding & Early Years (1976)
The Manns Harbor Volunteer Fire Department was organized on June 25, 1976, when a group of local residents came together to provide fire protection for the Dare County Mainland. Melvin Watson served as the department’s first chief, and its first fire truck was a 1956 military-surplus Jeep known around the community as the “Stump Jumper.” Outfitted with two 500-gallon water tanks, it helped get the new department up and running.
Station 18 was built along U.S. Highway 64 beside the Manns Harbor Community Building. It originally had room for one fire truck but was expanded as the department acquired more equipment and its responsibilities increased. Through the years, the property has grown into a community and public-safety site that includes the fire station, Community Building, Manns Harbor Park, and Dare County EMS Station 8.
The most recent improvements came with the construction of the new EMS station in 2025. The fire station’s apparatus bays were extended, roll-up doors and equipment-charging connections were installed, and several interior and exterior updates were completed. The Community Building received improvements at the same time, including renovations to its kitchen and restrooms.
The department has come a long way from the days of the “Stump Jumper,” but it still depends on local volunteers who are willing to give their time and look after their neighbors. Today, we rely heavily on donations and community fundraising to support its volunteers and cover operational costs, ensuring readiness with modern training and equipment.
Service Area & Volunteer Spirit
The department serves Manns Harbor, Mashoes, East Lake, and the surrounding mainland areas of Dare County. It is a large and varied district that includes homes, businesses, highways, waterways, wooded areas, and portions of the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge.
Covering an area like ours takes people who know the community and are willing to help when they are needed. That neighbor-helping-neighbor spirit has been part of the department since 1976 and remains at the heart of who we are today.
Modernization & Equipment Upgrades
Our apparatus and equipment have changed considerably since the days of the “Stump Jumper.” Today, the department operates a combination of engines, rescue apparatus, a tanker, a brush truck, and other specialized equipment selected for the types of emergencies we encounter on the mainland.
Each vehicle has a purpose. Some provide water in areas without hydrants, while others carry tools for vehicle accidents, medical calls, wildland fires, and rescue operations. Updating this equipment is an ongoing process, but every improvement helps our volunteers work more safely and serve the community more effectively.
Community Integration & Shared Services
Station 18 shares its property with the Manns Harbor Community Building, Manns Harbor Park, and Dare County EMS Station 8. Having these facilities together reflects the close connection between the department, the community, and the public-safety agencies that serve the mainland.
Emergency calls do not always respect district lines or fit neatly within the resources of one department. Through mutual aid, our volunteers regularly work with neighboring fire departments, Dare County EMS, law enforcement, emergency management, and other agencies. Those partnerships are especially important in a rural district where additional help may be coming from several miles away.
Grants & Funding Success
Operating a volunteer fire department takes more than membership dues and fundraising. State grants, local support, community donations, and partnerships with area organizations help us replace aging equipment, improve our station, and provide our members with the tools and training they need.
In 2025, the department received $30,825 through the North Carolina Volunteer Fire Department Fund. That award, along with other grants and donations, represents an important investment in the department’s ability to continue serving the mainland.
Nearly 50 years after its founding, the Manns Harbor Volunteer Fire Department remains an all-volunteer organization built around service to others. Our equipment and responsibilities have grown, but the reason we are here has not changed: when someone in our community needs help, we want to be ready to answer.
