Bestselling author Jim Collins wrote, “Good is the enemy of great.” He meant that most people and organizations are satisfied with being good at what they do and believe that there is nothing else they need to do. That is not the case with the Town of Mocksville in general and the Mocksville Fire Department in particular. Chief Frank Carter will tell you that “Constant Improvement” is his hashtag.

Chief Carter has been a firefighter in Mocksville since 1988 and has served as Chief since 2003. Over the last decade especially he has worked tirelessly, but quietly, improving the department for the community. Most of MFD’s efforts began to bear fruit over the last few years. The department has evolved from an almost 100% volunteer force to a mostly paid part-time team due to demographic and work shifts seen all over the country. MFD is the only Hazardous Materials certified department in Davie County. Chief Carter successfully advocated for six full-time positions in 2022. He also worked with his team for over five years getting equipment and certifications in place for Heavy Rescue with the department earning that designation in 2022.

“The residents of the Mocksville Fire District can take comfort in knowing this highly capable team of firefighters from the Mocksville Fire Department is safeguarding them and their belongings in the event of an emergency.”

Office of the State Fire Marshall

In 2023 MFD was recognized for taking part in risk assessment program that reviewed policies, processes and personnel. In November 2023 Chief Carter and his staff underwent an ISO (Insurance Services Office) review. Six months of work and preparation preceded the inspection and in January 2024 the Office of the State Fire Marshall wrote, “The residents of the Mocksville Fire District can take comfort in knowing this highly capable team of firefighters from the Mocksville Fire Department is safeguarding them and their belongings in the event of an emergency.” The Town ISO rating improved 1 point and the unincorporated portion of the fire district improved by 6 points. These ratings can have a direct impact on what property owners pay for insurance. In fact, this insurance rating places MFD in the top 20% of all fire districts in the state. This is an impressive accomplishment for a community of our size.

These achievements were the result of teamwork, planning and many hours of hard work. However, they only occurred because there was a leader with a vision that the MFD could be much better than “good”. On a larger scale, the same expectations are expressed in the Town of Mocksville’s Vision, Mission and Values. Our leadership team is committed to improving both Town departments and ourselves. This is the mentality that teams, businesses, organizations and communities need to become great.

If you see Chief Carter or any of the dedicated firefighters of the MFD congratulate them for their accomplishments and commitment to constant improvement.

Kenneth W. Gamble
Town Manager