Garner Fire-Rescue and Town Announce 2026 Firefighters Festival and Downtown Parade

Garner Fire-Rescue and the Town of Garner announced official scheduling and opened public parade and vendor registrations for the 2026 Garner Firefighters Festival, scheduled for Saturday, October 3, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Centered around historic Fire Station #1 at 503 W. Main Street, the long-standing annual festival celebrates the dedication of local firefighters and emergency personnel while serving as one of the town’s most cherished autumn traditions.

A centerpiece of the festival is the traditional community parade kicking off at 2:00 p.m. along Main Street, traveling west from New Rand Road to St. Mary’s Street, featuring vintage and modern fire apparatus, local civic organizations, school marching groups, and public safety vehicles. Throughout the day, attendees can participate in hands-on fire safety demonstrations, vehicle rescue simulations, children's bucket-brigade challenges, and equipment tours, alongside a bustling street fair of regional craft artisans and food vendors.

The festival provides an invaluable public platform for Garner Fire-Rescue—recently re-accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International—to deliver critical home fire prevention education and recruit volunteer personnel. Municipal organizers have arranged free downtown parking and complimentary shuttle service from First Baptist Church of Garner along Benson Road to accommodate thousands of expected visitors, highlighting the close-knit partnership between town emergency services and Garner residents.

Town of Garner and Public Safety Agencies Hold 9/11 Memorial Observance at Lake Benson Park

On the morning of Friday, September 11, 2026, the Town of Garner joined together with Garner Police Department, Garner Fire-Rescue, Wake County emergency responders, and community residents for the annual 9/11 Memorial Observance ceremony. Held at the Garner Veterans Memorial within Lake Benson Park, the solemn gathering paid tribute to the 2,977 lives lost in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and honored the extraordinary valor of first responders.

The ceremony featured a formal presentation of colors by a joint public safety honor guard, musical tributes, an opening invocation, and commemorative remarks from local public safety officials and community leaders. Speakers reflected on the lasting legacy of unity, selflessness, and courage displayed on that day, emphasizing the vital importance of instilling those civic values in future generations. Attendees observed moments of silence synchronized with the national timeline of events from that morning in 2001.

Lake Benson Park’s Veterans Memorial served as a poignant setting for local families, veterans, and active-duty public servants to pause and reflect on shared loss and national resilience. Municipal leaders noted that the annual gathering strengthens the deep bond between Garner’s citizens and its frontline emergency personnel, offering a quiet, meaningful space to reaffirm the town’s enduring pledge to never forget the sacrifices made on September 11.

Garner Fire-Rescue Awarded International Accreditation Status for Second Consecutive Time

The Garner Fire-Rescue Department has been awarded accreditation status for the second consecutive time by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI), a program of the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE).

The department received its accreditation during a CPSE hearing on Aug. 18 at the organization’s headquarters in Rosemont, Ill. Garner Fire-Rescue is among the fewer than 1 percent of fire departments worldwide to achieve international accreditation through CFAI and CPSE.

“Achieving accreditation demonstrates our commitment to providing the highest quality of service to our community,” Garner Fire-Rescue Chief Barrett Penny said. “More important, it reflects the dedication of our members and our willingness as an organization to continuously evaluate ourselves.”

Accreditation is a voluntary, comprehensive process that requires an agency to take an objective look at how it delivers services, evaluates performance, manages resources, identifies community risks and plans for the future.

Deputy Fire Chief Jason Hathcock, who serves as Garner Fire-Rescue’s accreditation manager, said the process has provided the department with a valuable tool for organizational growth and long-term planning.

“We have been able to use the Commission on Fire Accreditation International’s process as a proactive mechanism to plan for the future of this agency and identify areas where we can improve the quality of the services we provide,” Hathcock said.

The accreditation process also strengthens the connection between the Fire-Rescue Department and the community it serves by incorporating community risk, stakeholder input, performance data and organizational planning into the agency’s decision-making process.

Accreditation is awarded for a five-year cycle. Garner Fire-Rescue first received international accreditation from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International in July 2021.

About CFAI and CPSE

The Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI), a program of the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE), is dedicated to helping fire and emergency service organizations achieve excellence through self-assessment and accreditation. The CFAI accreditation model provides agencies with a comprehensive framework for evaluating their performance, developing strategies for improvement and demonstrating a commitment to continuous quality improvement and enhanced service delivery.

via Town of Garner

Barrett Penny Named Garner Fire-Rescue's Next Chief

A highly respected and seasoned fire service leader with 27 years of comprehensive experience will become the next chief of the Garner Fire-Rescue Department.

Barrett Penny, who has been serving as the department’s interim chief since March 2025, has been selected to lead Garner Fire-Rescue following a national search. His appointment is effective Jan. 12 with a formal swearing-in ceremony to occur at the Jan. 20 Town Council meeting.

During his tenure as interim chief, he has overseen the finalization of Garner Fire-Rescue's merger with the Town, helping to ensure seamless transfer of assets, personnel and finances over to Garner’s municipal government. He leads a department of 89 staff with a current fiscal year budget of $12.1 million.

“The Town of Garner is very fortunate to have Chief Penny as our next fire chief,” Town Manager Jodi Miller said. “He has demonstrated his commitment and passion to Garner and the fire service over his past 27 years of service. His leadership skills, work ethic and love for the Fire-Rescue staff make him the right choice to lead the Fire-Rescue Department in the future.”

For Chief Penny, his new role represents the culmination of an impressive career serving his hometown and a nationally accredited fire-and-rescue agency that has grown and evolved to continue meeting the needs of Garner and the surrounding area within its service district.

"I am deeply honored to have been selected to serve as the next fire chief of our department," Chief Penny said. “As someone who was born and raised in Garner and has served in every rank within this organization, this opportunity is both humbling and deeply meaningful.”

Chief Penny started with Garner Fire-Rescue as a firefighter in 1998 before rising through the ranks as a lieutenant then captain. In 2011, he was promoted to battalion chief and served in that role until 2022 when he was elevated to assistant fire chief. As assistant chief, he supervised six battalion chiefs and led a staff of 78 personnel in emergency and daily operations.

“Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside nearly every member of our department, witnessing firsthand the dedication, professionalism and pride that define who we are,” Chief Penny said. “Together, we’ve built a strong foundation of service, integrity and teamwork, values that will continue to guide us as we move forward.”

Chief Penny holds an associate’s degree from Columbia Southern University and is a level 3 fire officer with the state of North Carolina.

He is a member of the Wake County Association of Fire Chiefs, the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the North Carolina State Firefighters Association. He also serves as a representative on the Wake County Fire Commission.

In 2021, Chief Penny became the first member of Garner Fire-Rescue to earn the Medal of Valor. The recognition was for a swift-water rescue conducted while he was temporarily serving as operations chief for the Clayton Fire Department. He also received the Garner Local Heroes Award in recognition of his exceptional leadership and decision-making while commanding high-stress, complex emergency incidents.

“As we begin this next chapter, my commitment is to lead with transparency, collaboration and respect for our shared mission," Chief Penny said. “We are dedicated to protecting the lives and property of our community by building our future on the foundation of our past. The future of this department is bright, and I’m excited for all that we will continue to accomplish together."

To learn more about Garner-Fire Rescue, please visit its website main page.

Garner Fireman’s Day 2025

Garner’s Annual Fireman’s Festival this year will be Saturday, October 4th from 11:00 am - 6:00 pm.

The event will be held at the corner of Benson Road & Main Street. Come help us celebrate this time-honored tradition and enjoy home cooked BBQ, desserts, and other great foods, along with over 50 vendors. Make sure to bring the kids for games, live fire demonstrations and fire safety programs. The trucks will also be on display all day.

The Annual parade route begins at 2PM starting at Benson & Garner Road headed east, right on New Rand Road, then west on Main Street; ending on St. Mary's Street. Live entertainment by local music acts will begin at 3:30 pm and will continue until 6:00 pm. Please visit GarnerFire.com for more information, including where you can park.

Community Meetings Scheduled for Potential Merger Between Town and Garner Fire-Rescue

The Town of Garner and Garner Fire-Rescue will hold two community meetings to hear resident input about the potential merger between the two agencies. These two sessions will be held: 

• Wednesday, Jan. 11, at 6 p.m. at Garner Town Hall, Second Floor Training Room, 900 7th Ave. 

• Thursday, Jan. 12, at 6 p.m. at Panther Branch Community Center, 10900 Ten Ten Road 

The meetings are open to the public and will be facilitated by an independent, third-party group, NC Fire Chief Consulting, which works together with counties and municipalities across North Carolina on similar initiatives.  

During each meeting session, there will be a brief informational component, followed by the consultants asking for public feedback from those in attendance. Summaries of the input received during these two sessions will be provided to Town elected officials and Garner Fire-Rescue Board of Director members.  

In addition, there will be a public survey distributed throughout the community following the two public meeting sessions.   

The Town of Garner and Garner Fire-Rescue have been discussing the possibility of consolidating operations for approximately the past five years. Garner Fire-Rescue currently operates as a private, non-profit corporation fire department that contracts with the Town of Garner and Wake County.  

The Town of Garner now provides approximately 56.5 percent of the fire department’s overall funding for providing fire and rescue services within the Town. Wake County provides approximately 43.5 percent of the department’s funding for providing services in roughly 60 square miles of unincorporated area around the Town of Garner.   

Garner Fire-Rescue is one of only 10 fire departments in North Carolina that is both nationally accredited and holds an insurance Class 1 rating. The rigorous accreditation process ensures residents that they are consistently receiving the level of service that they are paying for, and that the fire department meets all essential core competencies. The insurance (or ISO) rating directly reduces insurance premiums for homeowners and businesses. Class 1 is the highest rating earned in the United States.   

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Any person wishing to comment in writing, prior to the public meetings, may do so by forwarding comments to the Town of Garner communications team at 900 7th Ave., Garner, NC 27529, or by emailing them to garnerpio@garnernc.gov.  

The Town of Garner strives to ensure that people with disabilities have equal opportunity to access its programs, services and activities. If you will require assistance to participate in either one of these sessions, we request that you contact the Town of Garner communications team at least five business days before the event.  

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FAQs about a possible merger.

How do we provide fire and rescue service now and how is it funded?

Fire and rescue service is provided by Garner Fire-Rescue Inc. The independent agency has contracts with the Town of Garner as well as Wake County to provide each jurisdiction emergency services within the Town limits and unincorporated area in Wake County. The agency was formed as a non-profit organization in 1952 and still operates in that capacity today.

What is a merger?

A merger happens when two or more organizations agree to go forward with a shared vision to create a single new organization rather than remain separately managed and operated. In some cases, there is a recognition that it is in the best interests of all parties to come together in a new, more effective and efficient version of the existing organizations.

Why consider a merger now?

The Town of Garner contracted with North Carolina Fire Chief Consulting (www.ncfirechief.com) in January 2021 to facilitate a process of review and determine the feasibility of creating a shared vision for the future for fire and rescue services in Garner and the unincorporated area in Wake County. The Town Council and Garner Fire-Rescue Board agreed to engage in a process that assisted both entities in planning and preparing for fire and rescue services as the Town and surrounding area continues to grow and develop.

How would a merger affect service?

Service delivery to the residents whom the Garner Fire-Rescue currently serve should not be affected. Daily operational responses should remain seamless through a merger.

What is the timeframe for completing a merger?

It would take approximately 12 months from when the final agreements and implementation strategy are approved.

Would this affect the Town’s current cost share with Wake County?

A merger should have no impact on the cost share agreement nor the methodology for determining the cost share with Wake County.

Garner and Wake County, Hold Groundbreaking for Caddy Road Public Safety Station

Wake County and the Town of Garner on Nov. 29 held the official groundbreaking ceremony for the new Caddy Road Public Safety Station planned for a fast-growing part of Garner (the U.S. 401-Ten Ten area).

The 16,000-square-foot station is a partnership between Wake County and the Town. It will primarily house Garner Fire-Rescue and Wake County EMS but will also offer touch-down space for the Garner Police Department.

The facility will include four full-apparatus bays, company day rooms, offices, a conference room, an exercise space, a kitchen and dining areas.

The building should be completed by winter 2023-24. The project was made possible in part by $6.5 million in Public Safety and Services Facilities bonds approved by Garner voters in November 2021.

Bring The Heat! Event - Aristotle Spirits

In honor of their First Anniversary Bash, Aristotle Spirits is hosting a Bring the Heat Cook-OFF! They will also be releasing their Habanero Vodka.
There is no fee for participation in the Cook-OFF. Participants are welcome to bring a charcoal grill or smoker. We encourage you to make any dish. The competition will be judged on the overall best of show, so anything goes.
If you would like to bring a pop-up tent and any additional supplies feel free. We will be more than happy to provide additional tables and chairs. You will be able to set up as early as 8am the day of.

Grand Prize includes Aristotle Swag, a $100 Gift Card, First Edition New Release Product, and much more.

If you would like to participate in the competition please visit https://aristotle-spirits.square.site/
or Contact Macie:
macie@aristotlespirits.com

Aristotle Spirits will have an outdoor bar and yard games all day. We will also be hosting a Raffle that benefits Garner Fire Rescue.

Garner Firemen’s Festival October 2nd

October 2, 2021

Located at Garner Fire Station 1
(Benson Rd. & Main St.)

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 Schedule of Events

Start Time: 11:00 am                                                 

End Time: 6:00 pm

Food – BBQ Plates, Hot dogs, Fries, Chick-fil-a Sandwiches, Funnel Cakes, and Bake Sale

Entertainment – Inflatable Bounce House & Slide, Rock Climbing Wall, Kids Firefighter Combat Challenge, Public Safety Education Center, Hot Car Display, Spot the Tot Rug, Fire Safety House, Moose the Fire Dog, and 50 vendors will be in attendance

Schedule of Events

12:00 – 12:25:  Christy’s DancExplosion, “Feet on Fire” Performance

12:30 – 12:55:  Snap Kick Martial Arts Demonstration

1:00 – 1:25:  Garner Magnet High School (GMHS) Cheerleaders Performance

2:00 – 2:45:  Parade – Route starts at W. Garner & Benson Road towards New Rand Road and returns to the fire station on Main Street

3:00 – 3:25:  Live Fire Demonstration – National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) Side-By-Side Burn Trailer

3:25 – 3:30:  Remarks from Mike Causey, North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance and State Fire Marshal

3:30 – 6:00:  Live Music Concert from “The Antique Outlaws”

6:00 – 6:05:  Drawing for 50/50 Raffle

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Parking Information

There is parking available within walking distance of event.

There is also Parking available at First Baptist Church – 601 St. Marys St.
With Shuttle Bus Service to front door of event.

Look for the Signs

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