North Carolina Fire Fighters Place in Paramedic Competition

Local 4733 Secretary Michael Herbert and Colby Ballard

August 6, 2009 – Two Leland, NC Local 4733 fire fighters – Local 4733 Secretary Michael Herbert and Colby Ballard – took second place in Region 3 of the North Carolina Office of EMS Paramedic Competition, held at Fayetteville Technical Community College July 24, 2009.

“We advanced our fire-based EMS system to the paramedic level in January, so this was the first opportunity for our members to take part in this competition,” says Sara DeGrange, president of Local 4733. “Local 4733 is very proud that brothers Herbert and Ballard made such an outstanding showing.”

The Local 4733 team was the only fire-based EMS service represented at the competition of 30 teams. The competition tested their knowledge, skill proficiency and critical thinking. Additionally, competitors completed evolutions based on real-life emergencies.

Herbert and Ballard will serve as alternates for the state competition, which will be held in October in Greensboro, North Carolina.