BAT CAVE, N.C. — Without financial support, the Bat Cave Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department might soon face closure, according to the fire chief.
The department has been struggling since Helene destroyed between 30 and 40 homes in Bat Cave, Chief Steve Freeman said. It directly impacted the fire department’s budget, which is funded by fire taxes.
“All the houses that were along the rivers and down the gorge pretty much got washed away,” Freeman said. “We’ve lost between a quarter of our budget that is not coming back.”…