George Real Estate Group Radio Broadcast

Rebuilding Mills River: A Fire Chief's Journey Through Disaster and Recovery

• George Real Estate Group

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Scott Burnette never expected to be fighting a fire at his own fire station. After 36 years in firefighting, the Interim Chief of Mills River Fire Department faced this surreal scenario in January 2024 when their substation burned down - just months after Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina. 

"When you're fighting your own house fire, like our firefighters did that night, it's very emotional and very impactful," Burnette explains, reflecting on the loss of the station built on land donated by a founding member's family. Despite this setback, plans are already underway to rebuild on the same site, with construction expected to begin this summer and completion within 12-18 months.

The conversation reveals how Burnette's entire career stemmed from a childhood experience when the fire department saved his family home from a wildland fire. Walking through the damaged woods with a junior firefighter friend who simply said, "you should join us," launched a lifelong commitment to protecting others. Now leading a department of 73 members (5 full-time, 68 volunteers), Burnette warns that Hurricane Helene's aftermath creates significant wildfire dangers that will persist for 3-5 years due to downed trees and debris.

This powerful episode highlights both the challenges faced by rural fire departments and the extraordinary resilience of first responders who continue serving their communities through multiple disasters. Whether responding to medical emergencies, rescues, hazardous materials incidents, or educating the public, Mills River's firefighters exemplify what it means to be hometown heroes. For those inspired by their story, Burnette offers encouragement to consider the fire service: "It's the best job in the world," with opportunities for training, education, and meaningful community impact available to people of all ages.

Speaker 1:

The George Real Estate Group radio broadcast is celebrating 10 years on WHKP. The George Real Estate Group is celebrating 10 years on the radio live every Thursday morning at 10.05 on WHKP 107.7 FM and AM 1450 and streaming online at WHkpcom. Each Friday morning at 845,. The George Real Estate Group presents the Hometown Hero Award to someone in our community who goes above and beyond to make our hometown a better place to live. Here's this week's Hometown Hero Show. It's 845 on Friday morning Time for the George Real Estate Group Hometown Hero Show. It's 845 on Friday morning Time for the George Real Estate Group Hometown Hero Series and it's our favorite time together with our friend Noah George from George Real Estate Group, and Noah brings us the show every week. Thank you so much, noah, for sponsoring this great show.

Speaker 2:

It's a privilege. I was looking back. I think we started sponsoring this some seven years ago. Are you serious Six or seven years ago? It's a privilege. I think I was looking back. I think we started sponsoring this some seven years ago. Are you serious Six or seven years ago? It's been amazing. I mean the men and women that you and I have had a chance to interview over the years and the stories we've shared. I mean we've been doing this and then I've been doing my Thursday show since 2011. So I mean I was doing the math. And then I have another radio show.

Speaker 1:

I've um. So I mean I was doing the math. And then I have another radio show. We've, I've done over 1600 radio programs.

Speaker 2:

Are you kidding me throughout the years? Man, you're getting up there close to randy hughes. Well, I got a long way to go to catch up to you.

Speaker 1:

That's probably what you've done in a week but your voice is out there in the stratosphere that's right.

Speaker 2:

Plenty of plenty of places we're out there, but it's a it's a privilege and honor to sponsor the hometown hero series. And um, yeah, the, the the real estate market uh is moving. I mean there's actually a seven percent increase in the number of homes sold uh the first quarter this year versus the first quarter last year.

Speaker 2:

Seven percent higher yes, which is significant. Now, the one change is that it's taking homes a little bit longer to sell. There's about a 10-day increase in the number of days it takes for the homes to sell, so that's about a 20% increase in the days on market. But our average price is holding around $547 right now and that's because we still have low inventory, still strong demand. I mean the market's the market and even with all the upheaval in the economy and the interest rates, life happens. Therefore real estate happens, and so we're still seeing a lot of activity.

Speaker 1:

Well, you just mentioned, right before we went on the air, that there's a lot of open houses scheduled for this weekend.

Speaker 2:

Our team has some wonderful open houses, and that again back to the activity. I mean we had an open house last Sunday. We had an open house this Thursday. We have three open houses this weekend. We actually have two in Flat Rock one at 78 Assembly Drive Incredible home that's going to be from two to four this Sunday. We also have one at 140 Old Mill Road in Flat Rock as well Both great homes, and again, you can see all of this on our social media. And then we have a brand new listing that's literally going to be they're pushing the button this morning at 121 Blue House Road in Hendersonville and that's going to also be open this Sunday too as well. Two to four. So three open houses. You can see all this on our social media Facebook, instagram. You can also go to realestatebygregcom to see all of our homes for sale. But we've been really busy and we're so excited about the continued activity and these open houses are well attended.

Speaker 1:

huh they are.

Speaker 2:

We're seeing so much activity with the open houses I mean people are out there shopping and for buyers, because there's also an increase of homes for sale, buyers have more options right now.

Speaker 1:

Okay, you always do in the spring, usually, right?

Speaker 2:

They do. There is an increase in the spring, but it's still great Again if it's the right thing for you. I mean, timing is only right if it's your timing.

Speaker 1:

You can't time the market as in.

Speaker 2:

You know the interest rates or the prices. You should buy when it's right. You should sell when it's right. I mean again, when it's right for you. It's the right time.

Speaker 1:

I guess you might have, in your vast real estate career, actually talked somebody out of selling.

Speaker 2:

We have Actually and that's so funny. We've actually had some of our biggest fans. We've gone through the exercise and they decided, because of the information we gave them, it was not the best thing for them to do to sell, and so they were so grateful and they tell all of their friends like these guys they didn't even sell our house, but they're great.

Speaker 1:

Well, that's what it gets back to in your commercial that you're running. It's easier to do these things when you have a guide.

Speaker 2:

That's right, a guide Someone to walk alongside you, yeah, and we have some incredible men and women that are our guides here in the community when we face emergencies.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah, you do, you do. You have a great team.

Speaker 2:

No, but I'm referring to our men and women that are serving in our community. Yes, we do have a great team. I our men and women that are serving in our community. Yes, we do have a great team. I was trying to do a transition there, randy, I didn't catch it.

Speaker 1:

I'm asleep this morning. Hey, I need more coffee, but well, you did lay it out here for Interim Fire Chief Mills River Fire Chief Scott Burnett. Good morning, scott, good morning.

Speaker 1:

How are you? I'm doing really good. It's good to have you here with us. We've just been thinking about you guys for a long time. At Mills River Fire Department, we felt such a tug at our heartstrings back in January when you guys lost one of your substations and we wanted to get you guys in here and talk with you about the recovery from that and how much you guys have been through since last September. It's just been a whirlwind for you guys and you had a little extra dumped on you with the loss of the substation. So, uh, so tell us what's going on at Mills River Fire Department.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, the last six months certainly have been a challenge for our community and our fire department.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 3:

The impacts from Helene and Mills River were very similar to throughout the region. We were all hands on deck for several weeks, just like everybody in the region, and I'm very proud of our firefighters very proud, proud of our community is how they responded to hurricane helene. It was, uh, it was is incredible to, to be a part of and, uh, to be alongside just some amazing folks well, it was, uh, you know, hats off.

Speaker 1:

It was the fire departments, uh, the volunteers and the mills river fire department, all the fire departments. That really jumped up, man, and that's when we saw you guys really shine and we are so grateful. Now the fire at the substation in January. Tell us about that.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, that was definitely a significant loss to our fire department and our community. That substation was built in the early 2000s and it was on land that was donated by one of our founding members, and so you know that family, the Pryor family, is very dear to Mills River Fire Department, mills River community and losing that station that they allowed us to build on their land was pretty devastating, and so right now we're in the process of having what's left of that building demolished and we're going to start new.

Speaker 3:

We're going to have a fire station on that same site Okay fire station on that same site. Okay, uh, you know the prior family is is uh, very uh kind to continue to let us use that that um land for a fire station. And so we're going to rebuild and we're going to have a fire station. Um, hopefully this summer we'll be able to start and it's under design right now and so hopefully, in about 12 to 18 months we'll have a fire station there again. It's incredible.

Speaker 2:

We all think no one's immune to experiencing fire and the irony right of the fire department's building burning down. I mean it can happen to anybody.

Speaker 3:

Absolutely. Yeah, I've been in the fire service a long time and have never experienced something like this. It is definitely ironic and, at the same time, uh, when you're, you're fighting your own house fire, like our firefighters did that night. It's uh, it's very emotional and very impactful yeah, it's heavy.

Speaker 2:

Is this correct? You've been in the fire, uh, you've been doing this fire career 46 years no, not, did I misunderstand this?

Speaker 3:

yes, so um, I started in 1988. Wow, whatever that math is, so about 36 years that's amazing.

Speaker 2:

Yes, it is did you start out in the volunteer? Yeah, at mills river? Yeah, sure did. Who in your world encouraged you to get into the to this?

Speaker 3:

so, uh, growing up in mills river, we had a wildland fire um, on the, the mountain, in mills river that I lived on the mountain in Mills River that I lived on Forge Mountain, and it was a pretty devastating fire.

Speaker 2:

No homes were lost, including our home, my childhood home, was saved by the fire department.

Speaker 3:

And I was amazed because the woods around my home were significantly damaged and a friend of mine who was a junior firefighter, who uh who was at the fire. Um a few days later, he walked me around and showed me everything that the fire department did, and I was just amazed in it.

Speaker 2:

Uh, he said well, you should, you should, you should join us, and so I did the uh, the next day I went and joined the fire department and that was the catalyst for you, for your. That's amazing. What would you say to young people today that would consider this career?

Speaker 3:

Oh it's the best job in the world. I strongly recommend a career in the fire service. There's lots of opportunities. Most every community has volunteer opportunities and you can start at a young age. The fire department supports all of the training, pays for education, you can go to college and earn an education that the fire department pays for in most departments. It's just a very rewarding career that I would absolutely encourage. Any young person that is looking for something meaningful to do in life the fire service is an excellent choice.

Speaker 1:

You guys lost in that substation fire some equipment that was slated to go to Los Angeles. Tell us about that story.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, so the Office of the State Fire Marshal in North Carolina was in the process of rostering across the state resources to go help the wildfires in Southern California, and so we had rostered a crew and had put extra equipment on our brush truck to take that out there, and we had four firefighters that were getting ready to deploy to California to help with those fires, and so that was a significant impact to lose that truck and that extra equipment.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and I checked your website earlier. You guys are involved in building a new fire station, so it's completed now.

Speaker 3:

It's completed, okay. Yes sir, yeah, so that's our station one, and we were very fortunate to have that station during the hurricane. We were able to house all of the resources from other areas that were helping our community, and so we had fire trucks, personnel, swift water rescue teams, all those resources we were able to house in our station and all of our volunteers were able to uh, you know, stay there continuously, and it was a blessing if if we were to operate out of our old station um?

Speaker 1:

we would not none of no, we we would not have been effective in helping our community well, we are so grateful to have you guys in our community and we just wanted to tip the hat to you and to all of the members. How many members of the fire department am I putting you on the spot by asking how big you guys?

Speaker 3:

are. We have 73. Wow, and that includes five full-time firefighters and the rest are volunteers.

Speaker 1:

Okay, and if anyone would like to get more information or become involved with the Mills River Fire Department, just stop by the Station 1?.

Speaker 3:

That's correct 5400 Boylston Highway in Mills River.

Speaker 1:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

And you guys do so much more than just fight fires right, I think people think that's it, but I mean you're doing so much more. I mean from safety to helping people with their child, you know car seats, I mean there's so many things that you do for the community. Yeah, absolutely.

Speaker 3:

We're an all-hazards response fire department, and so we respond to medical emergencies. We respond to rescues, hazards, materials releases and education is a huge part of what we do and educating and reducing that risk in our community. Wow, and how long have you been the fire chief? So I'm the interim fire chief. I've been helping out the Mills River's in between fire chiefs right now, and so, since fire chief, I've been helping out that mills river is in between fire chiefs right now, and so since august I've been helping out as the interim fire chief.

Speaker 2:

Okay, amazing. We're so thankful for everything you've done and everything your entire crew, your, your paid and volunteer staff. It's an incredible. Uh, any thoughts as to what we just went through with the, the recent fires here? I mean, what a blessing to have the rain it is yeah, we're the.

Speaker 3:

The rain that we've had over the last few days certainly was a blessing. The damage from Hurricane Helene is making the wildfires significantly more hazardous because of all the fuel that is down, and so we'll be seeing that, unfortunately, over the next three to five years, an increased fire risk because of all the trees and everything that are down.

Speaker 1:

Scott, thank you so much. Thank you to the Mills River Fire Department. We've got a certificate. We'd love you to hang on the wall there at the main station.

Speaker 3:

Thank you, and I also want to take this opportunity to thank you, Thank this radio station. During the hurricane, this was how our community got information. All the other ways to get information were down and if it were not for you and your radio station, our community would have been more impacted. So thank you.

Speaker 1:

Thank you. Thank you, we appreciate it. It was a trying time for everybody. Noah, next week we're going to be saluting Cat Carlton, who is the executive director of the United Way here in Henderson County. Looking forward to that chat.

Speaker 2:

We do and we have a number of people. I mean it's amazing the nominations that are coming in for the. Hometown Heroes series and for anyone listening that'd like to nominate, they certainly can do that as well.

Speaker 1:

And get us in touch with the George Real Estate Group.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely. Give us a call at 828-393-0134. Find us online at realestatebygregcom. Follow us on social media. We also podcast all of our radio shows, but remember we have three open houses this weekend and we'd love to see it come out.

Speaker 1:

And we will be podcasting this episode with Scott coming up right after the news at 9 o'clock. Thank you so much for joining us for the George Real Estate Group Hometown Hero Series on WHKP.

Speaker 2:

If the story I shared with you stopped you in your tracks, you're not alone. People have been asking what happened next. Dr Robbins' car had plunged into a freezing river and, as a teenager, underwater and disoriented, she remembered her survival tip blow bubbles and follow them. They will rise to the surface. She did, but when she reached the top, expecting air, she slammed into solid ice, Out of breath and nearly out of strength. She kept moving, desperately, searching for a break, and just when she thought she couldn't go on, a stranger appeared and pulled her to safety. It's a powerful reminder we can do hard things, but we don't have to do them alone. At the George Real Estate Group, we're here to help you through life's transitions, whether you're buying, selling or just trying to figure out your next move. The George Real Estate Group, because the right guide makes all the difference.

Speaker 1:

The George Real Estate Group is located in Flat Rock, north Carolina, near Hendersonville in Henderson County. You can find them online at realestatebygregcom. The George Real Estate Group can be reached at 828-393-0134 or stop by their office at 2720 Greenville Highway, flat Rock, north Carolina. Tune in live each week on Thursdays at 10.05 am on WHKP 107.7 FM and 1450 am, or stream online at whkpcom or download these podcasts wherever you get your podcasts. The george real estate group brings you the whkp hometown hero series every friday morning at 8 45.