WILMINGTON — The Wilmington Professional Firefighter Association Local 129 is spreading the word about official fundraisers for the five firefighters injured in Tuesday’s gas line explosion at Eastern Carolina Veterinary Medical Center.
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The chapter is taking direct donations through its Venmo account, @Local129.
Paws4people, which helps connect firefighters to service dogs, is also accepting donations on its website through Aug. 27. Every payment goes directly to the families of the injured; in return, every donor’s name will be added to the back of the 2026 Port City Firefighter paws4people calendar, expected to go on sale in the fall.
The page has already garnered dozens of donations ranging from $25 to $100.
“There’s been a lot of outreach — the community, the state, people from out of state,” Local 129 President Jordan Pettid said. “I’ve had people from Maryland reach out, so it’s kind of gone all over the place as far as people wanting to help.”
Additionally, local comedians have announced a benefit show, Comedy for a Cause, to take place Sunday evening. Participating comedians include Ellie Coleman, Brayden Fitts, Paul Baeza, Brad Allred and Lex Hunt.
A 7:30 p.m. show has already sold out, but tickets remain for the 9 p.m. show for $23 each. Both will take place at Station No. 2 at 602 S. Fifth Ave. All proceeds go to the firefighters.
Pettid told PCD the comedy group is considering another show at Dead Crow Comedy Room if the 9 p.m. slot sells out.
These are the only fundraisers authorized to take donations, Pettid added; his team has already spotted fake accounts and started working to bring them down.
“If there is a GoFundMe, it’s not real,” Pettid said.
Of the five firefighters injured, four have been released from the Novant Hanover Regional Medical Center. A fourth firefighter sustained a shoulder injury. Pettid said the firefighters should be able to return to the job in a week or so.
The fifth firefighter suffered second- and third-degree burns on his hands and arms. He was transferred to the UNC Burn Center in Chapel Hill where he was scheduled for surgery on Wednesday.
However, Pettid told PCD his surgery, for skin grafts, has been pushed back, hopefully to occur in the next few days. Otherwise, Pettid said the firefighter was in “good spirits.”
The Local 129 has been working with the Professional Fire Fighters of North Carolina (which also accepts donations here) and the International Association of Fire Fighters to secure accommodations for the firefighter’s family and help them through the healing process. The Local 129 has recently partnered with Allora Rise Counseling and Therapy to make mental health services available to its members.
Pettid said while Tuesday’s explosion resulted in the most severe injuries he’s seen locally and was significant enough to make headlines, it is representative of what firefighters are faced with every day. Even when a response is done “the correct way,” he said, things can still go wrong.
“On a daily basis, they’re putting their lives on the line,” Pettid said.
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