2010-2011 Executive Board

Phil Welch
Second Vice President

Gastonia Fire Department
welch_phil@cityofgastonia.com

704-866-6806 Work

32 Years of Service



Occupation: City of Gastonia Fire Chief

Phil has been a volunteer firefighter with Union Road Vol. Fire Dept. for 32 years, rising through all ranks and serving as Chief for 8 years. He was a career firefighter in Gastonia for 11 years before his transfer to Director of the Regional Emergency Services Training Center at Gaston College. He returned to The City of Gastonia as Fire Chief in 2009.

He was NCSFA’s Statistician for 9 years before being elected to represent the Western Region, and is now progressing through the Chairs of the Executive Board.

Phil is a Board Member for the NC Fire / Rescue Commission, and is active in numerous other fire service organizations. He is a member of the State’s Line-of-Duty Death Response Team. He has been a member of the NFPA Fire Service Training Committee since 1995. He is assigned to NFPA 1402, 1403, 1407 and 1451.

Phil has earned degrees in Fire Science, Business Administration, Fire Safety Engineering, and has a Masters in Fire Service Leadership.  He is also a 2004 Executive Fire Officer graduate of the National Fire Academy, and has earned the Chief Fire Officer Designation.

He lives in Gastonia with his wife Cindy and their three children Casey, Hannah and Jake.

Phil Welch
Gastonia Fire Dept
Second Vice President