This is a blog version of a Facebook posting from June 17, 2025.
Looking back at the North Bald Head Wynd Fire AKA the Lighthouse Landing Fire, and which contributed to the reasons for purchasing the new apparatus. It occurred on Saturday night, November 20, 2021, and was one of the largest fire events in the history of Bald Head Island, NC.[1]
Here’s a new retrospective and recap, expanding upon our real-time postings during the incident and incorporating information contained in a third-party after-action analysis later conducted.
[1] Another major fire on September 30, 1993, destroyed 38 condo units. Here’s a prior posting about that incident.
Setting the Stage
Bald Head Island is located in south Brunswick County and is described by ChatGPT today as “a small, picturesque barrier island located at the southeastern tip of North Carolina, covering roughly 5.9 square miles, of which about two-thirds is land and the rest water. As of 2023, the year-round population is estimated at around 150 residents, though seasonal visitors significantly swell that number during summer months.”
“The community is known for its affluent and predominantly older demographic, with a median age over 69 and a high proportion of retirees. The island is accessible only by ferry [from Southport, 20 minutes] or private boat, and transportation is limited to golf carts, bicycles, and foot traffic, which helps preserve its quiet, car-free charm. The island includes a mix of residential areas, vacation homes, preserved maritime forests, and beaches.”
The island is protected by a public safety department with public safety officers (PSOs)) who certified as law officers, firefighters, and EMTs or paramedics. In 2021, they had four shifts led by a lieutenant and three to six PSOs on duty at a given time.[2] They were also supported by a volunteer staff who assisted with EMS calls, fire calls, and water rescues.
[2] On the day of the fire, there were five firefighters on duty. [WECT, 5/8/24]
Their fire and EMS equipment at the time of the fire included:
Ladder 3272 – 1995 Pierce quint, 1250/500/55-foot
Engine 3273 – 2002 International/Salisbury, 1500/1000
Engine 3274 – 2006 International/KME, 1500/1000
Engine 3275 – 1993 HME/New Lexington, 1500/1000 with drop tank, bought used in later years.
Two ambulances
Two quick-response patrol vehicles
Short Summary
Based on our morning-after Facebook posting.
Dispatched 7:56 p.m. for 114 N. Bald Head Wynd, with auto-dispatch for Southport and Oak Island as mutual aid, both responding to coast guard station on Caswell Beach, for transport of personnel to island.[3] (Under 3.0 road miles for travel.)
[3] Units from Oak Island and Southport arrived in under five minutes. [WECT, 5/8/24]
Arriving BHI units found four residential structures fully involved. And with a strong north wind contributing to the fire’s quick spread. Numerous exposures, as many as twelve reported. Two additional structures reportedly also caught fire. Also spread to woods at adjoining golf course.
Tankers were special-called to assist with water on the island. Handful of apparatus transported to island by barge, believe two engines, two tankers, and a brush truck, notably assisting with (a.) additional water source and (b.) assisting with spot fires and woods fire(s).
Transport to island of personnel by USCG, one or more Marine Patrol boats from Southport/Deep Point Marina, plus fire boats from Sunny Point and Carolina Beach to scene. (Plus, island passenger ferry?) Transport of apparatus by ferry barge from Southport/Deep Point Marina. Staging on the mainland was at Southport Station 1.
Control time was reported on radio as 9:58 p.m., though they were still extinguishing fires. Noted town press release, fire was partially contained at about 9:45 p.m. and fully contained at around 1:00 p.m. With personnel still on scene through the morning, as fire watch and extinguish any rekindling.
See after-action analysis for CAD timeline. See below for official narrative.
Structures Involved
121 N. Bald Head Wynd Unit 17 – Residential structure with 1,816 heated square footage and 504 unheated square footage totaling 2,320 square feet. Approximate length – 32’ x width – 36’.
121 N. Bald Head Wynd Unit 18 – Residential structure with 2,055 heated square footage and 320 unheated square footage totaling 2,381 square feet. Approximate length – 32’ x width – 36’.
121 N. Bald Head Wynd Unit 19 – Residential structure with 2,055 heated square footage and 326 unheated square footage totaling 2,381 square feet. Approximate length – 32’ x width – 36’.
117 N. Bald Head Wynd – Residential structure with 2 buildings. Building one has 2,256 heated square footage and 1,532 unheated square footage totaling 3,780 square feet. Approximate length – 53’ x width – 42’. Building two has 320 heated square footage. Approximate length – 34’ x width – 26’.
Official Narrative
From the after-action analysis, provided by Bald Head Island Department of Public Safety Sergeant Barger.
BHI Department of Public Safety was dispatched to 114 North Bald Head Wynd (NBHW) for multiple houses on fire. 3224 and 3209 arrived and found 4-6 structures on fire. 3209 established IC and was assigned Tac 1. IC requested all responding units to move to Tac 1 for assignments. Only 1 unit (Ladder 3272) moved to TAC 1. 117 NBHW, 18 Lighthouse Landing, and 19 Lighthouse Landing were all fully involved and 17 Lighthouse Landing was 10-20% involved. Engine 3274 arrived and positioned where shown on the preceding diagram and the 4in supply line was hand jacked to the nearest hydrant. The decision to deploy resources down Lighthouse Landing was made because wind driven fire was threatening structures in that direction.
IC and 3224 deployed two 3in lines to establish two portable master stream devices; the first directed onto 17 Lighthouse Landing and the second directed onto 18 and 19 Lighthouse Landing. A 2.5in line was deployed with a gated wye and two 1.75 hand lines that were initially placed to reduce the spread of fire into 17 Lighthouse Landing. 3213 and a volunteer left the scene to turn on the emergency fire pump at utilities at the request of IC. Complications with the fire pump caused it to only be active for approximately 5 minutes before failure.
Lighthouse Landing units were grouped into FIRE ATTACK GROUP A and placed under Chief Coring. After a few moments IC reevaluated conditions and strategic objectives and both master streams on the 3in lines were deployed to the bulk of the fire at 18 and 19 Lighthouse landing and the hand lines were used as exposure control of 17 Lighthouse Landing. The deck gun on Engine 3274 was initially deployed towards #19 Lighthouse Landing but then repositioned for a vertical fog pattern to protect against wind driven embers threatening Engine 3274 and structures across NBHW.
Crews were experiencing low pressure and volume from hydrant #69 so IC requested an additional hydrant be tapped by Engine 3273. A 1.75 hand line was deployed from Engine 3273 to the shared driveway of 115 and 117 NBHW for exposure protection until 3275 arrived. Once Engine 3275 arrived it tapped its own hydrant and two additional 1.75 hand lines were deployed for fire attack and exposure control. This created FIRE ATTACK GROUP B under Lt. Gibson (3205).
Crews continued to experience low water pressure and volume which was assumed to be due to inline hydrants so IC requested Engine 3275 to use tender water from mutual aid companies. Multiple attempts were made to facilitate an interior attack on 17 Lighthouse Landing but conditions were not improving and the structure became dangerous until the fires at 18 and 19 Lighthouse Landing were extinguished. Staging was established at Ladder 3272. Mutual aid units were deployed as needed from this location for a variety of roles. As assignments were completed firefighters were sent to rehab and returned to staging after being cleared.
Real-Time Reactions
As the incident unfolded, our page (Legeros Fire Line) logged notes and provided a home for reactions on social media, where 497 comments and 2,400 shares were logged. See that posting.
Listen to Radio Traffic.
We compiled the first hour(s) of radio-traffic into a 50-minute recording, posted to YouTube.
Run Card
From Legeros posting.
Bald Head Island – E3273, E3274, L3261, Tanker 3275, M3295 [marine?]
Boiling Springs Lakes – Car 481
Bolivia – Brush 778
Leland – E5171, E5371 (one to fire, one for coverage)
Northwest – E3371
Oak Island – E171
Shallotte – Car 1581
Southport – E371, E374, Car 381, Car 383
St. James – E3773
Sunny Point – Marine 3592, Tanker 3565
Sunset Harbor Zion Hill – E1874, Car 1881
Winnabow – E672, Car 683
Carolina Beach Marine 21 (New Hanover County)
Brunswick County EMS M7
St. James EMS Car 4779
Mutual Aid Summary
From after-action report.
Boiling Spring Lakes – 4 personnel
Bolivia – 2 personnel – 1 brush truck
Carolina Beach – 3 personnel
Kure Beach – 3 personnel
Leland – 3 personnel – 1 engine (not utilized)
North West – 3 personnel
Oak Island – 3 personnel
Sunset Harbor Zion Hill – 2 personnel with pumper-tanker
Shallotte – 4 personnel
Southport – 6 personnel
Sunny Point – 5 personnel – 1tanker
St. James – 6 personnel for rehab
Winnabow – 4 personnel – 1 engine (not utilized)
Brunswick Co. EMS – 2 personnel for rehab
Brunswick County FM
Brunswick County SO Marine Patrol
State Marine Patrol
Cause Undetermined
No specific cause–such as arson, cooking, or smoking–was confirmed, only the contributing factors of intense winds and the possibility of electrical malfunction. Investigators and local fire officials were unable to determine a definitive cause.
After Action-Analysis
Sunset Beach (NC) Fire Chief Paul Hasenmeier created an after-action analysis at no cost to the Village of Bald Head Island Department of Public Safety. In addition to serving as Chief of Department for SBFD, he was a lead faculty member at Columbia Southern University where he taught on-line courses in their fire administration program. He was also an adjunct instructor for Bowling Green State University and taught at their annual state fire school.
After-Action Recommendations
- Perform Apparatus Inspection
- Perform Equipment Inventory and Operational Deployment
- Needs Assessment
- Perform Assessment of Water Utilities
- Advance Community Risk Reduction Practices
- Effect Change to Implement Resource Alarm Assignments
- Review and Develop Standard Operating Procedures
- Conduct Incident Command System Training
- Increase Hands-On Firefighter Training
- Develop Volunteer and Public Safety Auxiliary Programs
Read the Report
Read the report (26 pages, PDF).
Sources
Legeros Fire Line – Reporting on Fire – 11/19/21
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GEwGT1DVy/
Legeros Fire Line – Recap of Fire – 11/20/21
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Bk1zEPW6S/
Legeros Fire Line – Radio Traffic Recording – 11/20/21
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16ox8GBXnD/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klBp4Bxq74o
Legeros Fire Blog – Major Fire in September 1993 – 5/4/20
https://legeros.com/blog/bhi-1993
Village’s Voice – Lighthouse Landing Fire a Year Later – 11/20/22
https://villagebhi.org/announcement/lighthouse-landing-fire-a-year-later/
Paul Hasenmeier – North Bald Head Wynd Structure Fires – After Action Analysis – November 20, 2021
https://legeros.com/blog/docs/2021-11-20-bhi-after-action-analysis.pdf