Support Fort Fisher Ocean Rescue
CREATING
IMPACT
ABOUT
Fort Fisher is one of North Carolina’s most distinctive beaches — miles of shoreline, 4-wheel-drive access, shifting sandbars, and powerful currents. It welcomes families, anglers, surfers, runners, and nature lovers from across the region and around the world.
Since becoming officially USLA-certified in 2023, Fort Fisher has intentionally built and trained its own Ocean Rescue team designed specifically for this coastline. The focus is proactive safety, visible presence, and rapid response.
148 RESCUES
·
12 LIFEGAURDS
·
350 PREVENTATIVE ACTIONS
·
2,340,508 BEACH PATRONS SERVED
·
148 RESCUES · 12 LIFEGAURDS · 350 PREVENTATIVE ACTIONS · 2,340,508 BEACH PATRONS SERVED ·
IMPACT
In 2025, three additional lifeguard towers were added — especially on the 4-wheel-drive beach — dramatically improving visibility across long stretches of shoreline and decreasing response time where access can be challenging.
As coverage expanded, rescues decreased. Prevention works.
In USLA terms, Preventative Actions are direct interactions that stop emergencies before they happen — educating swimmers about rip currents, redirecting unsafe activity, and intervening early. Visible lifeguards in elevated towers create safer behavior long before a rescue is needed.
2024 Impact
7 Lifeguards
• 148 Rescues
• 350 Preventative Actions
• 50 Medical Aids
• 60 Lost & Found Persons Assisted
• 2,340,508 Beach Patrons Served
2025 Impact
12 Lifeguards
• 87 Rescues
• 250 Preventative Actions
• 48 Medical Aids
• 48 Lost & Found Persons Assisted
• 1,113,118 Beach Patrons Served
DONATE
What Your Donation Supports…
The Friends group provides essential Ocean Rescue equipment, including:
• Official uniform kits (shirts & hoodies)
• Response packs
• NEW in 2025: Binoculars for long-range shoreline scanning
On a beach measured in miles, early identification matters. Binoculars allow lifeguards — especially those stationed in towers on the 4WD beach — to detect distressed swimmers, forming rip currents, or unsafe conditions sooner and intervene faster.
Your gift strengthens prevention, supports professional readiness, and helps protect more than a million visitors each year.
When you give, you invest in:
• Visible lifeguard coverage
• Faster response times
• Proactive prevention
• Community safety
Stand with the team that stands watch.