E.M. Holt Fire Station breaks ground for new Burlington headquarters
E.M. Holt broke ground on a new Burlington headquarters at 5535 S. NC 62 Highway, a move meant to keep every address in its district within five miles of a station.
Construction moved ahead on a new E.M. Holt Fire Station in Burlington on May 21, with county and department leaders treating the project as a response-time investment, not just a building project. The new headquarters is planned for 5535 S. NC 62 Highway and is meant to give E.M. Holt a station layout that keeps everyone in the fire district within a five-mile radius of a fire station.
That location matters because fire coverage in Alamance County is tied to distance, hydrants and station placement. County ISO mapping says properties within 1,000 feet of a hydrant and within five miles of a fire station can qualify for an ISO 3 rating, which can affect property insurance outcomes. County fire marshal information currently lists E.M. Holt Fire Department as Station 9 with an ISO Rating 4, underscoring why the district is investing in a new headquarters footprint.
The project is also meant to expand, not replace, service. The original E.M. Holt station will remain staffed, so the department will keep operating from both locations. That gives the district a wider operating base as growth continues to push new homes and roads farther into areas that need faster fire and medical response.
E.M. Holt is one of Alamance County’s 12 fire districts, part of a countywide system that relies on special district funding rather than a single city fire department model. County tax records list the E.M. Holt special fire district rate at 0.1092 per $100 of assessed value for 2025-2026. Alamance County says it collects about $105 million in property tax revenue each year for county government, 12 fire districts and six municipalities, showing how the station fits into the larger public-safety budget that residents help fund.
Mark Fuqua is listed by the county as fire chief of E.M. Holt Fire Department. Leaders and board members were on hand for the groundbreaking, reflecting broad backing inside the district for a headquarters that is intended to improve coverage, strengthen response times and position the department for the next phase of Burlington-area growth.
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