PERSONNEL
Michael H. Lee, CFO, MIFireE
Fire Chief
Chief Lee joined the Lincolnton Fire Department in 2008 after spending 15 years as a career firefighter for the City of Greensboro, N.C. Chief Lee graduated from John Wesley College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Management and Ethics and holds the designation of Chief Fire Officer, through the Center for Public Safety Excellence. He is a member of the Institution of Fire Engineers and a Board of Director for the Volunteer and Combination Officers Section (VCOS) of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. Chief Lee maintains IFSAC certifications as a Level II Fire Officer, Level II Fire Instructor, Level II Firefighter, Level I Hazardous Materials Responder and Rescue Technician. Currently, Chief Lee holds N.C. State certifications as an Emergency Medical Technician-B (NCOEMS), Level I Fire Inspector, Structural Collapse Technician (NCEM), Swift Water Rescue Technician (Rescue 1), and Land Search (NASAR). Chief Lee is married to Suzanne with two sons, Chris and Matt, both of which are involved in the volunteer fire service.
Mitch Burgin, Assistant Chief
mitchburgin@ci.lincolnton.nc.us
Mitch has been with the department since 1980. He is a State Certified Level II Firefighter and a State Certified Fire Instructor. Chief Burgin has a degree in Fire Protection Technology at Gaston College. Mitch enjoys working with the public, especially kids. He is married to wife Lynne, and they have two children Matt and Colby.
Patrick King, Fire Marshal
patrickking@ci.lincolnton.nc.us
Patrick joined the fire department in 1990. He is a N. C. Certified Level II Firefighter, Level III Standard Certificate for Inspections, and a member of the Confined Space Rescue Team. Patrick has a degree in Fire Protection Technology at Gaston College. He is married to wife Jaquetta, and they have a daughter Madison.
Debbie Raby, Senior Administrative Support Specialist
debbieraby@ci.lincolnton.nc.us
Debbie has been with the fire department since 1989. She is responsible for the data entry into the N.C. State Fire Incident Reporting System. Her duties include maintaining training records, inventory,payroll and purchasing. She is married to husband Joey, and they have one daughter Samantha.
A-Shift
Bill Fortenberry, Fire Captain
billfortenberry@ci.lincolnton.nc.us
Bill has been with the department since 1989. He is a Certified Level II Firefighter, Level III Fire & Life Safety Educator and Level II Instructor. He is also a member of the Confined Space Rescue Team. Bill has obtained his Associate Degree in Fire Protection Technology. He is married to wife Kim, and they have two daughters Kylie and Lacey and one son Adam.
Shane Bowman, Fire Engineer
Shane has been with the department since 2004. He is a N.C. Certified Level II Firefighter, a N.C. Level II Instructor, a N.C. Certified Emergency Medical Technician, and a Certified Driver/Aerial Operator. He is married to wife Lori and they have one child, Lauren. Shane is Currently Back-up Captain of the A-Shift.
Jason Ingle, Fire Engineer
Jason became a career firefighter with the department in 2004. He is a N.C. Level II Firefighter, N.C. Emergency Medical Technician, N.C. Emergency Rescue Technician, Driver/Aerial Operator, N.C. Level II Instructor, Swiftwater Rescue Technician. Jason is married to wife Sara, and has one daughter Kaylee.
Lee Hansen, Fire Engineer
Lee became a career firefighter with the department in October 2001. He is a certified N.C. Level II Firefighter and a nationally certified Emergency Medical Technician. Lee has two children, Curtis and Melanie. Lee is currently assigned to the A-Shift.
Rusty Reynolds, Firefighter
Rusty became a career firefighter with the department in 2007. He is a N.C. Level II Firefighter, N.C. Emergency Medical Technician, Driver/Aerial Operator, He is married to his wife Nikki, has one son Mason, and one daughter Emilee.
Tyler Swafford, Firefighter
Tyler became a career Firefighter with the department in 2008. He is a N.C. Level II Firefighter. Tyler is also NC Driver/Operator and Aerial Operator certified. Tyler has earned a degree in Fire Protection Technology from Gaston College. Tyler is currently assigned to the A-Shift.
B-Shift
Rick Blackwell, Captain
rblackwell@ci.lincolnton.nc.us
Captain Blackwell has been with the department since 1975. He is State Certified Level II Firefighter and Level III Fire Inspector. He was promoted to Captain in 1982 and City Fire Marshal in 1991. Captain Blackwell also heads up Lincolnton Fire Department’s Confined Space Rescue Team. He is married to wife Patty, and they have two children Brian and Jason. Rick is currently assigned as Captain of the B-Shift.
John Barkley, Fire Engineer
John became a firefighter in March 1979. He is a N. C. Certified Level II Firefighter, N.C. Emergency Medical Technician, and a N.C. Certified Level II Fire & Life Safety Educator. He is also a member of the Confined Space Rescue Team. John enjoys working with the public and helping people. He is married to wife Dinah, and has three children Jordan, Jared, and Grayson. John is currently assigned as Back-up Captain for the B-Shift.
Kurt Boyles, Fire Engineer
Kurt has been with the department since 2004. He is a N.C. Certified Level II Firefighter, a Certified Emergency Medical Technician, and a Certified Driver/Aerial Operator. He is married to wife Ashley.
Mike Shrum, Fire Engineer
Mike joined the department in August 2002. He is a certified N.C. Level II Firefighter, Driver/Aerial Operator, N.C. Emergency Medical Technician, Rescue Technician, and Haz-Mat Ops. Mike is married to wife Sherry, and they have two sons, Kendall and Riley.
Ben Harkey, Firefighter
Ben became a career Firefighter in 2007. He is a N.C. Level II Firefighter, N.C. Emergency Medical Technician, Driver/Aerial Operator. Ben is married to wife Christy, and has one daughter.
Joe Fletcher, Firefighter
Joe became a career Firefighter with the department in 2009. Joe holds North Carolina certifications as a Firefighter II, Emergency Medical Technician-Basic, Technical Rescuer, Driver Operator, Aerial operator and Level 1 Hazardous Materials Responder. Joe is also certified as a Technical Rescuer- Ropes Specialist and also holds his Leadership III certification from the National Fire Academy. Joe is also a certified Child Safety Seat Technician through Safe Kids. Joe is also a certified Swiftwater Rescue Technician through Rescue 3 International. Joe is a graduate of the North Carolina Thermal Imaging School and the North Carolina Breathing Equipment School. Joe has an Associates Degree in Fire Protection Technology from Gaston College and a Bachelor of Science in Fire Science degree from Columbia Southern University. Joe is currently assigned to the B-shift.
C-Shift
Ryan Heavner, Fire Captain
ryanheavner@ci.lincolnton.nc.us
Ryan started with the fire department in October 2001. He is a certified N. C. Level II Firefighter and Instructor. He is also an Emergency Medical Technician. Ryan is currently assigned as Captain of the C-Shift.
David Ford, Fire Engineer
David became a career firefighter with the department in 1989. He is Certified Level II Firefighter and a member of the Confined Space Rescue Team. He oversees all equipment maintenance at the station. He is married to wife Penny, and they have four children, Wes, Chelsea, Adam and Justin.
Brent Smith, Fire Engineer
Brent has been with the Lincolnton Fire Department since October 2001. He is a Certified N.C. Level II Firefighter and a Certified Emergency Medical Technician.
He is a graduate of the North Carolina Rescue College. Brent enjoys sports, hunting and fishing, and spending time with his family. He is married to wife Kristy, and they have one son Dylan, and one daughter Laney.
Tony Jenkins, Fire Engineer
Tony joined the department in 1979. He is a Certified Level II Firefighter, Emergency medical Technician and member of the Confined Space Rescue Team. He is also a Certified Level III Fire & Life Safety Educator. He is currently serving as President of the Lincoln County Firefighters Burned Children’s Fund.
David Zemore, Firefighter
David became a member with the department in 2003. He is a N.C. Level II Firefighter, Driver/Aerial Operator, and Rescue Technician. He is married to wife Amy, and has two daughters Lizzy and Zoey.
Jeffrey Hurt, Firefighter
Jeffrey became a career firefighter with the department in 2007 . He is a N.C. Level II Firefighter, N.C Emergency Medical Technician, Swiftwater Rescue Technician, and Driver/Aerial Operator certified. Jeffrey is currently assigned to the C-Shift.
Volunteer Personnel
The Lincolnton Fire Department maintains a group of dedicated volunteer firefighters who recieve financial reimbursment for each call that they respond to. The volunteer firefighters are required to maintain the same minimum State certifications as the career firefighters and perform the same duties as the career firefighters. Lincolnton Volunteers are a valuable asset to the Department and the citizens of Lincolnton.
Assistant Chief Gary Davis
Captain Brent Turner
FF Lanny Ballard
FF Jason Blackwell
FF Chris Garner
FF Barry Hedgpeth
FF Wayne Houser
FF Tom Montgomery
FF Jordan Barkley
FF Jack Jones, Jr.
Jack retired from the Department as a career Captain in 2007 after 30 years of service. Upon retirement Jack became an active volunteer. Jack is married to his wife, Cheryl.
FF Brent McConnell
Randy Hallman, Fire Engineer (Retired)
Randy became a firefighter with the department in 1973 and Retired in 2008 after 35 years of dedicated service. Upon retirement from active service, Randy has become a valued volunteer firefighter. Randy is a certified Level II Firefighter and a member of the Confined Space Rescue Team. Randy is married to his wife Ann, a retired elementary school teacher and they have two children Christopher and Cameron.
FF Colby Rash
No picture available
FF Matt Huss
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General Information
Hours of Operation: 8:30am-5:00pm Monday-Friday
Telephone: 704-736-8920 (non-emergency)
Fax: 704-736-8929
Mailing Address:
PO Box 617
Lincolnton, NC 28093
Street Address:
116 W. Sycamore Street
Lincolnton, NC 28093
