Chris Nelson Reflects on Four Decades of Fire Service

As Cape Fear Community College’s Director of Fire and Rescue Programs, Chris Nelson has spent the past decade overseeing one of the state’s most respected firefighter training programs. Nelson will retire from CFCC this summer, closing a chapter in a career spanning more than 40 years in the fire service and firefighter education.

Before spending decades in the profession, Nelson had a very different future in mind.

A Different Path Than Planned

Growing up in Wilmington, Nelson spent his high school years studying drafting and architecture. He later earned a degree in Electronics from CFCC, known then as Cape Fear Technical Institute, before beginning a career in retail.

“I wanted to be an architect,” Nelson said. “I spent years drawing house plans and building models. Then I thought I wanted to work in electronics. Becoming a firefighter wasn’t really part of the plan.”

That changed after an experience that gave him a new perspective on helping others.

A close friend of Nelson’s, who was a volunteer firefighter, suffered severe injuries in a fire and spent several months recovering in the hospital. Seeing what his friend went through inspired Nelson to get involved with his local volunteer fire department.

“I had thought about becoming a firefighter before, but that really pushed me to do it,” Nelson said. “I wanted to help people and hopefully prevent others from going through something like that.”

Decades of Service in the Firehouse

What started as volunteer service quickly grew into a lifelong calling. While working in retail, Nelson continued volunteering and eventually joined the ranks of career firefighters when opportunities became available.

Nelson spent 34 years in the fire service, including 19 years with the Wrightsville Beach Fire Department, where he served first as a volunteer firefighter and later as a career firefighter, and 15 years as a career firefighter with the Wilmington Fire Department. He retired in 2016 as a Battalion Chief after leading the department’s training division and safety, health, and wellness programs.

But retirement did not mean stepping away from the profession he loved.

Bringing Decades of Experience to CFCC

In 2015, Nelson joined CFCC as a part-time fire instructor before moving into a full-time role as Fire Rescue Training Coordinator. He later transitioned into his current role as Director of Fire and Rescue programs.

“I really, quite honestly, wasn’t planning on coming to work here full-time,” he said. “The position opened up, they called me, and I said, ‘Hey, what the heck?'”

Over the past decade, Nelson has helped expand training opportunities for everyone from students entering the profession for the first time to experienced firefighters pursuing advanced certifications and continuing education.

One aspect of the program that stands out to him is the lasting connection many firefighters have with CFCC throughout their careers.

“We have students who have been taking classes here for many years, some for their entire careers,” Nelson said. “I have firefighters who have been coming to CFCC since the 1980s, and we continue to welcome firefighters from across the state who return year after year for training and professional development.”

“Training never stops. You train until you retire.”

A Legacy Built on Service

One of the things Nelson enjoys most about his role is the opportunity to share lessons learned throughout his career.

“I enjoy giving back to the profession that’s given so much to me,” he said. “If I can help young firefighters become retired firefighters one day, then I’ve done something worthwhile.”

While firefighter training requires physical skills and technical knowledge, Nelson also emphasizes the importance of preparing for the emotional realities of the profession.

“The job isn’t for everybody,” he said. “It’s not usually the physical side. It’s often the things you see and experience during your career. We can’t teach people how to deal with everything they’ll see. But we can help them learn, prepare their mind, and understand the importance of opening up and talking about things.”

As he prepares to retire from CFCC, Nelson says the college has allowed him to remain connected to the profession that shaped his life.

“Being a firefighter is the best job in the world. There’s no other job where I could go anywhere, walk by a fire station, and say, ‘Hey, I’m a retired firefighter,’ and they say, ‘Come on in. Want a coffee?'”

“There’s a connection among firefighters that’s hard to explain. Being at CFCC allowed me to stay connected to that.”