The question of how best to provide timely fire and rescue service to all Pitt County residents and pay for it fairly is one that has baffled the Pitt County Board of Commissioners for decades. Explosive growth that has chewed through the community’s agricultural corners only exacerbated the problem and demanded a workable solution.

On Monday, the county commission provided that answer by approving new fire districts that will require all residents to pay for fire/rescue services. While some have claimed the board acted imprudently and, essentially, raised taxes, the county should not continue an inherently unfair and unequal policy when it has the ability to change things for the better.

For nearly a century, responsibility for providing fire and rescue services to the people of Pitt County has been in transition. The volunteer rescue quads that serve many of the rural areas and small communities are an established tradition and their work an invaluable contribution to residents. In recent years, however, the changing population patterns have forced difficult choices on county officials about how best to ensure a swift and efficient response in times of need.

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