For more than two decades, Donald Burns has dedicated his career to preparing Wilmington firefighters to serve the community with skill, confidence, and leadership. As Assistant Chief of Operational Services for the Wilmington Fire Department, Donald oversees training from the very first day of recruit academy through every stage of a firefighter’s career.
His mission is simple but significant: build firefighters from the ground up. Whether someone is brand new to the fire service or preparing for a leadership role, Donald and his team provide the education, training, and mentorship needed to help them succeed, and to ensure residents receive the highest level of service.
Building Firefighters from Day One
Recruit training is at the heart of Donald’s work. Over a six-month academy, recruits complete roughly 1,000 hours of classroom instruction and 128 hours of physical training. They learn fundamental firefighting skills, emergency medical response, leadership principles, and how to serve the Wilmington community with professionalism and care. But training does not stop after graduation. Firefighters complete hundreds of hours of additional company training, specialty training at the Cape Fear North Campus training facility, and ongoing EMT education each year. “The most enjoyment I get is seeing them come in not knowing a thing,” Donald said. “Then six months later, you see their growth and their excitement about the job and the services they’re going to provide our citizens.” Many recruits are not originally from Wilmington, but through academy training and community interaction, they quickly adapt to the city and its residents, even receiving waves from citizens as they run through neighborhoods for physical training.
More Than Just Training
While training is the core focus, Donald’s responsibilities are far broader. His division also oversees health and safety, special teams training (including two state teams), administrative services such as budgeting, facilities, and apparatus management. “It’s multi-faceted,” he explained. “You touch everything in the organization.” From operational readiness to long-term professional development, Donald ensures the department remains prepared to respond to emergencies, whether fire-related or medical, in a timely and effective manner.
Expanding Leadership Opportunities
One accomplishment Donald is especially proud of is the creation of an internal certificate program approved by the Civil Service Board. The program provides firefighters another pathway for lieutenant promotion without requiring an associate degree. The program is rigorous and highly focused on real-world leadership. Participants complete leadership courses, analyze fire service line-of-duty deaths to learn critical lessons, study strategy and tactics, examine legal aspects of the profession, and complete technical writing training. They also develop a personal leadership philosophy and career plan through extensive reading and weekly essays. The program removed financial and time barriers for senior firefighters who wanted to advance but faced challenges pursuing a college degree. By offering meaningful, in-house education aligned directly with job responsibilities, the department created a pathway that strengthens both individual growth and organizational leadership.
Service Residents Can Count On
Through comprehensive, ongoing training, Donald helps ensure Wilmington residents can rely on highly prepared firefighters and EMTs. Recruits enter the academy with little knowledge of the fire service but leave ready to respond to emergencies with professionalism and expertise. By investing in training at every level, Donald and his team are building a department that residents can trust today and into the future.
Beyond the Badge
Outside of work, Donald is a self-proclaimed LEGO fanatic and a big Star Wars fan, including collecting Star Wars helmets. He also proudly displays a collection of challenge coins earned and collected throughout his career. Challenge coins represent fire departments, units, achievements, or special events and symbolize service and camaraderie. His favorite coin is from the Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program — a prestigious, four-year professional development program that includes graduate-level coursework and applied research projects designed to enhance leadership within fire service organizations.
Advice for Future City Employees
Donald encourages those interested in working for the City to take the application process seriously. “Make sure you fill out the application fully and explain why you want the position,” he said. “We don’t know you yet. It helps paint the picture.” He emphasizes that shared values matter. In the fire service especially, teamwork, integrity, and commitment to the community are essential. After 21 years, Donald remains passionate about developing firefighters, strengthening leadership, and ensuring the Wilmington Fire Department continues to serve the community with excellence.