Firefighters

"In todays world, people do not want responsibility, make changes and help a neighbor. Especially when there is no pay involved. However, you will not find anyone more willing and capable of these than the firefighters at Taylors Bridge. Each one is involved in the day to day operations and truly makes a difference in the community.

It is a honor and privilige to be associated with such people."
Teddy Booth, Taylors Bridge Fire Chief

Kelly Aman
Kelly became a member in late 2005. She works at Mary Gran Nursing Center and adds to our medical services. Presently, she is working on firefighter and medical certifications.

David Ammons
David also joined in late 2005. He is presently involved in taking firefighter classes. David is young and very earger to learn and help the community in any way.

Rodney Ballance
Rodney was born and raised in the community. He joined the department in 1997 and has been Training Officer and Lieutenant. Familiar with driving large vehicles, Rodney trains all members on the operation of the apparatus.

Doug Bass
Doug began with the fire department in February 2006. He is presently attends Union High School and serves as a auxiliary member.

Matthew Booth
Matthew began his fire department career as a junior in high school in 2003. However, since he was able to walk, he has been at the fire station because his father is the Chief. Matthew is presently taking Fire Science at Wilson Technical College and works part time at the Clinton Fire Department. He has his Firefighter I & II and Rescue certification.

Hank Brininger
Hank joined in late 2005. He is presently is a senior at Union High School and is heavily involved in taking firefighter classes. Hank is about 6'4" so, anything that is over our head he takes care of.

George Carr
George is also one of the original members. Firefighter I & II certified, George has done about everything at the department since 1986. He is employed by Sampson Regional Medical Center and is self employed, working with electronics on his spare time. He is our electrician when we need one.

Rav Cuvijle
Ray has been with us since 1994. He has been Safety Officer for several years. He is a prison guard with the North Carolina Department of Corrections. Ray is also a member of the Sampson County Honor Guard and represents the department and county in numeous functions.

Larry Draughon
Larry joined in 2005 and is a owner of a construction company. He is presently taking Firefighter I & II classes at Fayetteville Technical College to complete his certification in a few months. Larry's plan is to become a career firefighter and continue to volunteer at the department.

Brandon Hairr
Brandon started in 2003 as a junior in high school as a Junior Firefighter. In school, Brandon was involved in athletics and was all conference in several sports. He continues to grow in the fire service, taking firefighter and rescue classes towards his certification.

Jimmy Jordan, retired
Jimmy has been in the fire service for (30) years. He completed firefighter certification several times as in changed over the years. He began with Piney Grove Fire Department and moved to our district. He was a school teacher at Lakewood High School. Now completely retired, Jimmy has a saw mill and does a lot of fishing with his wife Carolyn.

Chris Leister
Chris began with the fire department in February 2006. He is presently works with Hog Slat Inc. and serves as a probationary member. With his computer skills, Chris will be responsible for data collection.

Matthew Lewis
Matthew is another young man that began the fire department as a junior in high school in 1999. He is employed locally and has the ability to leave work during the day. He is one of the "young guns" of the department and stays ready to go.

Dion Matthis
Dion is another young gun. He began in 2002 at 19. Dion is a excellent cook and feeds the department from time to time. He also is a Sampson County E911 Telecommunicator and it is our opinion, the best one in the county. Keep up the good work!!

Lewis Matthis
Lewis joined the department in 1998. He has completed his Rescue certification and only has a couple of firefighter classes left. Lewis is married and a father of four children and still makes time to serve the community. Lewis is an excellent firefighter and has a talent to repair anything. Our equipment is always in service with Lewis around.

Oscar Matthis
Oscar began in 1986 as one of the original members of the department. He has his Firefighter I & II certification and continues to support the community. He is a owner/operator of a farm and is a turkey grower for one of the largest poultry companies in the country.

Ronnie Matthis
Ronnie was one of the first officers when the fire department began in 1986. He played a major roll in the development of the department and continues to be a vital influence on what we do. Ronnie is a owner/operator of a major farm and cattle business in the state and the southeastern part of the country.

Allen McDougald
Allen was a junior in high school when he began in 2005. Nicknamed "Big Pun" he continues to work towards his firefighter and rescue certification. Allen is great to be around and no matter of the circumstance, will put a smile on your face. Allen also is a walking computer and can remember everything.

Bruce McLamb
Bruce came to the department a little late in life. He was 60 years in of age in 2000 but don't let that fool you. He can outwork everyone on the department. Bruce has almost completed is firefighter certification and his roll is to operate the apparatus and equipment.

Darwin Millen
Darwin began in 1997. He is employed as a conductor of a major train company. Darwin is a complete family man and is strong in his church and service to God. We are glad he still finds time to support the department and community.

Jason Riley
Jason came to us from Harrells Fire Department with excellent fire credentials. He has been in the fire service since he was in high school. He also has EMT certification and volunteers with Harrells EMS. Jason is employed as a Sampson County E911 Telecommunicator.

Larry Wiggins, retired
Larry began with the fire department from day one. Being an local business owner, he always made sure he had the time to serve the community. Larry is now retired from the department but still has the upmost respect of the members and continues to help out when possible.


	Home			"In todays world, people do not want responsibility, make changes and help a neighbor. Especially when there is no pay involved. However, you will not find anyone more willing and capable of these than the firefighters at Taylors Bridge. Each one is involved in the day to day operations and truly makes a difference in the community. It is a honor and privilige to be associated with such people." Teddy Booth, Taylors Bridge Fire Chief

	Link			Kelly Aman Kelly became a member in late 2005. She works at Mary Gran Nursing Center and adds to our medical services. Presently, she is working on firefighter and medical certifications.
				David Ammons David also joined in late 2005. He is presently involved in taking firefighter classes. David is young and very earger to learn and help the community in any way.
				Rodney Ballance Rodney was born and raised in the community. He joined the department in 1997 and has been Training Officer and Lieutenant. Familiar with driving large vehicles, Rodney trains all members on the operation of the apparatus.
				Doug Bass Doug began with the fire department in February 2006. He is presently attends Union High School and serves as a auxiliary member.
				Matthew Booth Matthew began his fire department career as a junior in high school in 2003. However, since he was able to walk, he has been at the fire station because his father is the Chief. Matthew is presently taking Fire Science at Wilson Technical College and works part time at the Clinton Fire Department. He has his Firefighter I & II and Rescue certification.
				Hank Brininger Hank joined in late 2005. He is presently is a senior at Union High School and is heavily involved in taking firefighter classes. Hank is about 6'4" so, anything that is over our head he takes care of.
				George Carr George is also one of the original members. Firefighter I & II certified, George has done about everything at the department since 1986. He is employed by Sampson Regional Medical Center and is self employed, working with electronics on his spare time. He is our electrician when we need one.
				Rav Cuvijle Ray has been with us since 1994. He has been Safety Officer for several years. He is a prison guard with the North Carolina Department of Corrections. Ray is also a member of the Sampson County Honor Guard and represents the department and county in numeous functions.
				Larry Draughon Larry joined in 2005 and is a owner of a construction company. He is presently taking Firefighter I & II classes at Fayetteville Technical College to complete his certification in a few months. Larry's plan is to become a career firefighter and continue to volunteer at the department.
				Brandon Hairr Brandon started in 2003 as a junior in high school as a Junior Firefighter. In school, Brandon was involved in athletics and was all conference in several sports. He continues to grow in the fire service, taking firefighter and rescue classes towards his certification.
				Jimmy Jordan, retired Jimmy has been in the fire service for (30) years. He completed firefighter certification several times as in changed over the years. He began with Piney Grove Fire Department and moved to our district. He was a school teacher at Lakewood High School. Now completely retired, Jimmy has a saw mill and does a lot of fishing with his wife Carolyn.
				Chris Leister Chris began with the fire department in February 2006. He is presently works with Hog Slat Inc. and serves as a probationary member. With his computer skills, Chris will be responsible for data collection.
				Matthew Lewis Matthew is another young man that began the fire department as a junior in high school in 1999. He is employed locally and has the ability to leave work during the day. He is one of the "young guns" of the department and stays ready to go.
				Dion Matthis Dion is another young gun. He began in 2002 at 19. Dion is a excellent cook and feeds the department from time to time. He also is a Sampson County E911 Telecommunicator and it is our opinion, the best one in the county. Keep up the good work!!
				Lewis Matthis Lewis joined the department in 1998. He has completed his Rescue certification and only has a couple of firefighter classes left. Lewis is married and a father of four children and still makes time to serve the community. Lewis is an excellent firefighter and has a talent to repair anything. Our equipment is always in service with Lewis around.
				Oscar Matthis Oscar began in 1986 as one of the original members of the department. He has his Firefighter I & II certification and continues to support the community. He is a owner/operator of a farm and is a turkey grower for one of the largest poultry companies in the country.
				Ronnie Matthis Ronnie was one of the first officers when the fire department began in 1986. He played a major roll in the development of the department and continues to be a vital influence on what we do. Ronnie is a owner/operator of a major farm and cattle business in the state and the southeastern part of the country.
				Allen McDougald Allen was a junior in high school when he began in 2005. Nicknamed "Big Pun" he continues to work towards his firefighter and rescue certification. Allen is great to be around and no matter of the circumstance, will put a smile on your face. Allen also is a walking computer and can remember everything.
				Bruce McLamb Bruce came to the department a little late in life. He was 60 years in of age in 2000 but don't let that fool you. He can outwork everyone on the department. Bruce has almost completed is firefighter certification and his roll is to operate the apparatus and equipment.
				Darwin Millen Darwin began in 1997. He is employed as a conductor of a major train company. Darwin is a complete family man and is strong in his church and service to God. We are glad he still finds time to support the department and community.
				Jason Riley Jason came to us from Harrells Fire Department with excellent fire credentials. He has been in the fire service since he was in high school. He also has EMT certification and volunteers with Harrells EMS. Jason is employed as a Sampson County E911 Telecommunicator.
				Larry Wiggins, retired Larry began with the fire department from day one. Being an local business owner, he always made sure he had the time to serve the community. Larry is now retired from the department but still has the upmost respect of the members and continues to help out when possible.