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April 28, 2026
Fire Service Reality:
Follow the Service, Follow the Money
Fire Protection in Summerhouse: What DFG Found
One of the most important findings from our research is this:
Turkey Creek Volunteer Fire Department (TCVFD)—not Holly Ridge Fire & Rescue (HRFR)—is the primary fire service responder for Summerhouse and is disproportionately funded by the town of Holly Ridge (HR) to the detriment of Summerhouse (SH).
For years, many residents believed HRFR was our primary fire department, or that SH's responsibility was split with TCVFD. That perception was reinforced over time and remains, including through Town messaging and public statements. However, after reviewing GIS mapping, contracts, and communicating directly with fire officials, the facts are clear: TCVFD is the primary responder and responds first to most calls in our community.
At the same time, the town of HR does not allocate a proportional share of either county fire funds or municipal funding to TCVFD—despite it being the department that primarily serves Summerhouse and us carrying such a large proportion of HR’s taxable value (see our numbers in newsletter 1 | De-Annexation in Action).
It is also important to understand how fire services are funded. In addition to HR municipal funding, Onslow County provides HR fire funding based on property value—not call volume—and it amounts to approximately $0.03 per $100 of assessed value , paid through county property taxes.
Where the System Breaks Down
Even though TCVFD is the primary responder, funding does not follow service.
Holly Ridge receives approximately $230,000 in Onslow County fire funds as part of our county property taxes, and that amount is proportionate to our taxable values.
SH contributes 60% of HR property tax revenue based on 2026 assessed values and 2025/2026 HR Adopted Budget (explained in newsletter 1 | De-Annexation in Action)
Holly Ridge's total fire service funding exceeds $958,000 to include ~$728,000 in municipal funds. (2025/6 HR adopted budget, which includes fire medic funding)
Only $60,000 is allocated to TCVFD or 6% of Total Fire Services Expenditures, 26% of County Fire Funds (2025/6 HR adopted budget) *Recent years are similar, but older are even lower
The department that protects Summerhouse receives a very small fraction of the funding. The department that does not primarily serve us receives the vast majority.
Truth
Holly Ridge sold the sewer system servicing SH to ONWASA. According to our resident HR councilman, the only reason SH exists is that Holly Ridge Water and Sewer (HRWS) worked with the SH developer to have sewer, and that is the only reason we have sewer today. The sale is complete, and HR accepted the financial compensation deemed fair at the time. SH is not obligated to a perpetual clause that we owe HRWS, or the town of HR, a forever debt and gratitude. In fact, SH has continued to pay HR through property taxes since then. We believe any debt has been fully paid by ONWASA, our ONWASA bills, and our HR property taxes. We stand by what we said in our last meeting, and while it's difficult, that's what we believe. Summerhouse makes Holly Ridge better! Not the other way around, as expressed in his notes. Unless he was referring to SH improving HR by paying the bulk of their property tax revenues over the last 20 years, then we agree.
I. What This Means for Residents
TCVFD has continued to serve SH despite limited funding, and unlike HR, has consistently put SH residents first. However, this imbalance has real implications:
Limited funding constrains equipment, staffing, and long-term capability
Service improvements are slower than they should be
Risk increases if funding gaps persist
There is also a broader concern: TCVFD has previously considered ending its contract due to this imbalance. If that were to occur, some areas of Summerhouse could face reduced fire protection ratings and higher insurance costs.
II. Why This Matters to You
This is not just technical—it directly impacts safety and cost.
Portions of Summerhouse fall outside HRFR’s 5-mile response range
Those same areas are within TCVFD’s response range
Response distance affects ISO ratings and homeowners’ insurance costs
III. Who Responds & How Quickly, Matters
Editors Note | 4.28.26 12:00 PM EST
The Town has discussed addressing this gap for years, including options like expanding HRFR coverage or building satellite facilities. However, these issues were not resolved at the time of annexation and remain unresolved today, raising serious concerns about whether service planning kept pace with tax collection. This shows that the annexation was viewed as dollars over service from the beginning and remains so. During numerous HR town hall meetings and budget meetings, a common topic has been the formation of an HR municipal fire department, or, most recently, a substation closer to SH. How does HR maintain fiduciary oversight and accountability for funds allocated to HRFR, given that it does not exercise direct administrative control over the organization? What safeguards prevent conflicts of interest when providing funds to HRFR? Would HR move the main HRFR location closer to SH? Is there a purpose behind the disproportionate funding? Some of this can be attributed to the HRFR Fire Medic program, but even excluding that, HRFR and future capital funds are at significantly greater amounts than TCVFD. Will changes require future tax increases to fund them? Only time and further digging will tell.
IV. How Fire Response Actually Works
For most calls, TCVFD is dispatched first—and often alone
For confirmed structure fires, multiple departments respond, including HRFR
Day-to-day fire protection in Summerhouse relies on TCVFD.
The Bottom Line
Summerhouse residents generate a significant share of the tax base that funds fire services—but those funds (county and HR municipal) are not being allocated proportionally to the department that actually serves us.
That is a clear mismatch between taxes paid and services received.
De-annexation would correct this by aligning funding with actual service delivery—ensuring that resources support the TCVFD for protecting our community. County fire funds for SH would go directly to TCVFD rather than through HR, preventing HR from disproportionately allocating them in its favor.
And before judging service quality, it’s worth asking a fair question:
What could TCVFD achieve with the funding it should have been receiving all along?
TCVFD has consistently served Summerhouse—often at its own financial disadvantage. That commitment deserves recognition and, more importantly, proper support. The geography is not changing soon, and that is important because they are and should remain our primary responder.
North Carolina changed its annexation law in 2011 because too many communities felt they were being annexed for revenue, not for service. This law increased scrutiny of service delivery requirements, requiring towns to provide “the same services in the satellite area as they provide within their primary corporate limits.” We ask you, considering the disproportionate funding HR provides TCVFD, and that logically, funding affects the quality of fire service they can provide SH:
Do you feel SH residents are afforded the same quality fire service as residents in HR town limits?
The Chief of TCVFD, who has been fighting this for years to no avail and with no consideration for improvement by HR, doesn’t.
Use Onslow County's Fire ISO Rating Lookup to see your rating and response district. Just follow the prompts and enter your address.
For Reference
Holly Ridge | 2026/26 Adopted Budget
Holly Ridge | SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES 3.30.23
Turkey Creek | Contract with Town of Holly Ridge
2026 Holly Ridge Budget Workshop
So we recommend listening to the recent HR budget meeting and reading the 2023 HR Budget meeting recap. Yes, it is long, and the audio is poor, but it is very revealing about the past and current history of this issue. It also shows how there is obviously and finally some movement, but not really focused on what is best for the residents of SH, more on what is best for the HR budget. You be the judge. Our take - Sounds like HR recognized they have a fire services problem; have yet to solve it; aren’t going to solve it soon without a greater expense also known as tax raises; are throwing more money at a volunteer organization they have no control over with little verification or control of expenditures; and as usual, money is more important than the safety and security of SH residents.
Editors Note(s):
April 28, 2026 12:00 PM EST | Language of this paragraph has been refined from the original version for a more objective and less confrontational tone.
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