This week’s member spotlight is on Fire Chief Seth Norris.

Chief Norris started in the fire service in 2001 at Meat Camp Fire Department. From there, he was hired as a Fire Inspector for Watauga County Fire Marshal’s Office. He then became a Fire Prevention Specialist at Boone Fire Department and then the Emergency Management Director of Appalachian State University before making his way to Deep Gap.

Seth is certified through the State of North Carolina in Firefighting, Technical Rescue, Fire & Life Safety Educator, Fire Officer 1, EMT-Basic and is a NC qualified fire instructor and Incident Command Instructor. He also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Management and a Master’s degree in Public Management.

When asked about why he enjoys being a Volunteer Firefighter Seth said, “The volunteer fire service is the most unique force in American society. I appreciate being a part of a service with such a strong tradition and history. I also appreciate the changing face of the fire service as we better understand how to reduce injuries and property loss in the 21st Century. Through all of this, my favorite aspect of the fire service is the individual Firefighter. I appreciate the opportunity to invest in other people, learn from them, teach them and watch them grow in ways they did not think possible”.