Brian Wade

Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal

Brian Wade serves as Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal for Fire and Rescue Services with the North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal, overseeing the divisions of Training, Commission and RPD, Governmental Services, Inspections and Ratings, GIS, Fire Investigations, Community Risk Reduction, and Safe Kids. He also serves on the NFPA Fire Service Training Technical Committee.

Brian began his fire service career in the early 1990s as a Junior Firefighter with North Lenoir Fire & Rescue. He progressed through the ranks as a firefighter and officer, served on the department’s Board of Directors, and has held the position of Fire Chief since 2010.

Professionally, Brian joined Wilson Fire & Rescue in 2003, where he served as a company officer before transitioning to the North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal as a Field Trainer, expanding his impact on fire service training and standards across the state.

Brian holds the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence and is a Member of the Institution of Fire Engineers (MIFireE). He is an NC Level III Fire Instructor, Live Burn Instructor, Fire Officer IV, Certified Fire Investigator, and holds multiple state fire service certifications. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Fire and Emergency Services Administration from Fayetteville State University and an Associate of Applied Science in Fire Protection Technology from Wilson Technical Community College.

Brian and his wife, Jenn, live in Lenoir County, where they are raising their two daughters, Avery and Addison. He enjoys spending time with his family and remains actively involved in his community through his church and continued service with his local volunteer fire department.