Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey to present $325,000 in grants, honor firefighters during visit to Duplin, Sampson counties on Wednesday Commissioner will also visit area insurance agency

During a visit to Duplin and Sampson counties on Wednesday, June 30, North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey will present more than $325,000 in ceremonial fire and rescue grant checks, visit an insurance agency and honor two members of the North Carolina fire service with SAVE awards.

Warsaw firefighter Blake Phillips and Faison Fire Chief Lee Kennedy will be honored with SAVE awards for life-saving actions they took during a fire earlier this year.

In January, the Kenansville Fire Department, along with Sarecta, Warsaw and Magnolia fire departments, were dispatched to a house fire at 570 South, N.C. 50 Highway in Kenansville. Firefighter Phillips and Chief Kennedy were the first to enter the house when they heard someone screaming for help. They quickly discovered a man with disabilities on the floor. He was unable to walk and attempted to crawl to escape the flames. Kennedy and Phillips saved the man’s life by taking him out of the house and turning him over to EMS, who took him to the hospital. He was treated for smoke inhalation and released from the hospital.

During the Wednesday visit, Commissioner Causey, who is also the State Fire Marshal, will award more than $325,000 in fire and rescue grants to 18 volunteer fire departments and rescue squads in need. 

The fire departments receiving grants include Warsaw, Kenansville, Faison, Calypso, Albertson, Oak Wolfe, Magnolia, Rose Hill, Sarecta, Pleasant Grove, Chinquapin, Greenevers, Beulaville, Teachey, Fountaintown, Lyman, Pin Hook and Turkey.

While stopping by an insurance agency, Commissioner Causey will listen to agents’ concerns and discuss his efforts to introduce private flood insurance to North Carolina and modernize the insurance industry.

Finally, Commissioner Causey will visit the Turkey Volunteer Fire Department in Sampson County to view their autism awareness fire truck. Turkey VFD does a lot of work in their community on autism education.

Here is Commissioner Causey’s public schedule for Wednesday:

10:00 a.m. 
Rescue and Fire Grants/SAVE Awards Presentations
Warsaw Fire Department
714 N. Pine Street, Warsaw, N.C.                         

12:20 p.m.
Insurance Agency Visit
Duplin County Farm Bureau
308 N. Main Street, Kenansville, N.C.                                

1:15 p.m.
Rescue and Fire Grants Presentation
Chinquapin Volunteer Fire & Rescue
2800 S. N.C. Highway 41/50, Chinquapin, N.C.                                

2:30 p.m.
Fire Station visit to see their Autism Awareness Fire Truck
Turkey Volunteer Fire Department
390 Faison Road, Turkey, N.C.