“I liked firetrucks as a kid, and I like firetrucks now,” said Doug Bissette, the newly sworn-in president of the NC Firefighters Association.Twenty-six years ago this week, Bissette fulfilled his dream of becoming a firefighter.His first job was with the Cross Roads Volunteer Fire Department in Lucama, North Carolina. He has also worked at the Bunyan Fire Department, and for 20 of those 26 years, he has worked in Pinetown.Bissette has been a board member of the NC Fallen Firefighters Foundation and served as...
“I liked firetrucks as a kid, and I like firetrucks now,” said Doug Bissette, the newly sworn-in president of the NC Firefighters Association.
Twenty-six years ago this week, Bissette fulfilled his dream of becoming a firefighter.
His first job was with the Cross Roads Volunteer Fire Department in Lucama, North Carolina. He has also worked at the Bunyan Fire Department, and for 20 of those 26 years, he has worked in Pinetown.
Bissette has been a board member of the NC Fallen Firefighters Foundation and served as the president of the board of directors for the Eastern NC Firefighters Association, which covers all 33 counties east of Interstate 95. He was also elected to the board of directors for the NC Firefighters Association, where he has served in all of the seats and most recently was sworn in as president, a position he will serve in for the next year.
“Each year the position rotates between the Piedmont, West, and Eastern regions,” said Bissette. “Every new president picks a theme, and mine is ‘Attitude Reflects Leadership.’ The bottom line it is important for those of us in leadership positions, formal or informal, to prepare our future firefighters and move our association forward.”
“I know this is an awesome privilege for Doug,” said Barry Overman, executive director of the NC Firefighters Association. “It is similar to when I came up through the ranks. A good ol’ country boy from a small town being appointed president. It is a great opportunity for him to serve as president after having worked his way through the different chairs. It is a great opportunity and a great honor, and I know he will do well.”
Bissette said he has never outgrown his love for firefighting and fire trucks. But the one thing that stands out in his lengthy list of accomplishments, and has meant the most to him, is the ability to help others.
“It has been rewarding to not only help the citizens around us, but as a board member and now president, my fellow firefighters as well,” said Bissette. “It has allowed me to be a part of a team and allowed me to witness the wins we have accomplished for firefighters across the state, such as working with the state legislature to secure cancer benefits for those who have been diagnosed while serving, no questions asked. I love the fire service probably more than anyone in the state. And because of that love, I have always wanted to make it better. My 11-year-old son currently serves as the mascot of the association. Hopefully, one day he will become a firefighter and reap the benefits of the work we are doing today.”
The NC Firefighters Association was originally chartered in 1887. There are currently 1,360 fire departments across North Carolina, representing 50,000+ firefighters, all of whom are members of the association. Of those, 72 percent are volunteer firefighters. The mission of the association is to respond to the needs of the members by using effective means of communication, providing defined financial benefits, and developing needed programs.
With his swearing-in, Bissette became the 100th president of the North Carolina Firefighters Association.