Dare County, in partnership with the Town of Kill Devil Hills, hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house event on Monday, August 5, 2024, to celebrate the recent completion and official opening of the new co-located facility that will serve as Dare County EMS Station 1 and the Town of Kill Devil Hills “William E. Gard” Fire Station 14.
The opening of the facility—which is located at 1628 N. Croatan Highway in Kill Devil Hills for Dare County EMS Station 1—marks the completion of Phase 1 Dare County’s multiphase project to modernize outdated EMS facilities throughout the county in order to better serve the residents and visitors of our community.
The ribbon cutting ceremony commenced at 3 p.m. and included remarks from Town of Kill Devil Hills Mayor John Windley, Dare County Board of Commissioners Chairman Bob Woodard, Dare County EMS Director Chief Jennie Collins, Kill Devil Hills Fire Chief Troy Tilley and special guest Susan Gard Nelson, daughter of Kill Devil Hills Fire Department Chief William “Bill” Gard, who served as fire chief from 1973 until his retirement in 1994—and for whom the new Kill Devil Hills Fire Department Station 14 has been formally dedicated.
Mayor Windley shared his appreciation for the new facility and informed the 200-plus attendees what the new facility will mean to local first responders, as well as the citizens of the community they serve.
Following Windley’s remarks, Dare County Board of Commissioners Chairman Bob Woodard addressed the crowd, emphasizing the county’s continued commitment to improving public safety, as well as the significant investment that has been made to ensure Dare County’s first responders are equipped with the top-notch facilities that are needed in order to perform their life-saving duties efficiently and effectively.
At the conclusion of his remarks, Woodard turned over the podium to Dare County EMS Director Chief Jennie Collins, who shared how important—and necessary—the construction of a new facility to serve as EMS Station 1 was for the first responders that dedicate their lives to providing life-saving services to our residents and visitors.
Collins also noted that, due to its central location in the heart of Kill Devil Hills, Dare County EMS Station 1 is not only responsible for providing service to one of the busiest and most populated areas of the Outer Banks—it also serves as the headquarters of the Dare County EMS Department and supports the operations of all eight stations currently in the county’s EMS system.
Following Collin’s remarks, Kill Devil Hills Fire Chief Troy Tilley was called to the podium, where he thanked the town’s leadership for their continued support of public safety and highlighted the importance of the investment that was made in the new facility that will enable first responders to serve the Dare County community more effectively for decades to come.
Tilley also highlighted the fact that the new facility will serve a dual role for the Town of Kill Devil Hills, as the fire department side will be utilized as the town’s Emergency Operations Center during significant disasters or emergencies that may impact the area in the future.
At the conclusion of his comments, Tilley invited Susan Gard Nelson, daughter of former Kill Devil Hills Fire Department Chief William “Bill” Gard to the podium.
As she took to the podium, Nelson shared an assortment of heartfelt stories and fond memories of her father, whose love for the fire service began around age 5 due to his family’s involvement within the industry—and ultimately turned into 30 years of devoted service to the Town of Kill Devil Hills.
Following the speakers, officials from Dare County, the Town of Kill Devil Hills and the Gard family—as well as representatives of Barnhill Contracting Company and Oakley Collier Architects—then gathered in front of facility and ceremoniously cut a blue ribbon to mark the official opening of the new Dare County EMS Station 1 and Kill Devil Hills “William E. Gard” Fire Station 14.
After the ceremony, attendees were invited to enjoy light refreshments and to take self-guided tours during the open house event, which featured featured ambulance and fire apparatus displays, “Stop the Bleed” training, “Hands-Only” CPR training, free blood pressure checks, and various handouts and children’s activities provided by Dare County EMS and Kill Devil Hills Fire Department staff members.
To view a video of the ribbon cutting ceremony that was held on Monday, August 5, 2024 to celebrate the completion and grand opening of Dare County EMS Station 1 and Kill Devil Hills “William E. Gard” Fire Station 14 on Dare County’s YouTube channel, please see the embedded video below: