Fire

The Clayton Fire Department is responsible for protecting life and property of the citizens of the Town of Clayton and those living in the Claytex Fire District. Personnel are intensively trained to respond to a variety of emergencies including structure fires, motor vehicle accidents and various specialty rescues. The Clayton Fire Department has 56 active members: 6 full-time and 50 part-time. Currently operates out of two stations which each received over 700 dispatches in 2005.

Fire Chief Lee Barbee, with the assistance from the officers and the advisory board, is responsible for day to day operations and long term planning for the department. The fire department is a town department, so all personnel and fiscal issues must be approved by the Town Council.

In addition to the Fire Chief, the department has a full time Fire Marshal and Administrative Support Specialist. Fire Marshal Tony Atkinson is responsible for fire inspections, investigations, safety, and prevention programs. Gail Harris, full time administrative assistant to Chief Barbee, assists with record keeping and other administrative duties. Officers in the departmental command structure also play administrative roles when necessary.

Administration

• Fire Chief: Lee Barbee
• Administrative Support Specialist: Gail Harris
• Fire Marshal: Tony Atkinson
• District Chief: ______________________
• District Chief: Kenneth Herring
• Training & Safety Officer: Jason Dean

Advisory Board

The Clayton Fire Department Advisory Board, a committee of interested citizens appointed by the Town Council, assists the Fire Chief with annual budget preparation and capital improvements planning.

Meetings of the Advisory Board are open to the public and held as needed.

• Larry Such
• Chris Sutton
• James Boykin
• Elwyn Anderson
• Kenneth G. Wendel
• Walter H. Langdon

Staff

The Department has 60 members: 10 full-time and 50 part-time on call. All members respond to incidents on Department issued vehicles or report to the nearest station to ride on an apparatus. All members, both full and part-time, are employees of the Town of Clayton.

All personnel are required to obtain and maintain NC Firefighter I & II Certification, hazmat technician level or above, confined space awareness or above and trench rescue. Members must pass a basic practical and written competency test before being promoted from an introductory member to firefighter. In addition, many personnel hold other specialty certifications such as driver operation, emergency rescue technician and rescue technician.