Fire chief to be recognized at State of the Union address for Helene efforts
By Shelly Garzon
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BAT CAVE, North Carolina (WLOS) — A local fire chief from western North Carolina will be recognized Tuesday night at the State of the Union address in Washington, D.C., for his leadership during and after Hurricane Helene.
Chief Steve Freeman of Bat Cave Fire and Rescue is being honored for what community members describe as a crucial role in helping residents navigate the storm and its aftermath.
“I had a near-death experience during the hurricane where God pulled a post back just enough for me to get my head freed,” Freeman said.
From residents to first responders like Freeman, Helene changed countless lives across western North Carolina. As the storm approached, Bat Cave Fire and Rescue worked around the clock to get the community ready.
“We went door to door asking them to evacuate. If they didn’t want to evacuate, at least write down their names and next of kin on that pad so we would know who was there,” Freeman said.
Colleagues said the chief’s commitment to serving others — even while facing his own hardships during the storm — is what sets him apart as a leader.
“We had no idea he was that concerned for everybody else. He didn’t even allude to the fact that he was in such dire straits,” Assistant Fire Chief Ronald Sobin said.
After Helene, Bat Cave was without power for nearly 40 days. Despite the prolonged outage, Freeman and his department continued working daily to help residents return to their homes and land on their feet.
Freeman said the recognition in the nation’s capital reflects the collective effort of his department and the community.
“It’s very humbling for this honor, and it’s really not me – it’s all God, and if it weren’t for God and the community and all my members coming together, everybody… It’s just overwhelming, and it’s great to be getting the recognition for the community. It’s really not about me,” Freeman said. Freeman has served the Bat Cave area for 36 years. He said helping others has always been at the heart of his work.
“It’s just the fact of helping the neighbors, everybody in the community. It’s been that way from the start. You kind of get it in your blood, and it’s just the great benefit of being able to know you can help somebody in their time of need,” Freeman said.
The State of the Union address is scheduled for 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 24.
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