Onslow County firefighter dies after responding to emergency call

ONSLOW COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - An Onslow County firefighter is now being remembered after he passed away following responding to an emergency call.

According to Onslow County officials, Johnny Goines, a firefighter with the Verona Volunteer Fire Department, passed away shortly after responding to an emergency call late Friday night.

Just after 10:45 p.m. Friday, the Onslow County 911 Center received a call regarding a motor vehicle accident in the area of High Hill Road and Verona Road. Verona Volunteer Fire Department was sent to the scene.

Around 11:05 p.m., Onslow County 911 Telecommunicators got a call regarding a white car in a ditch near 208 High Hill Road. Verona Volunteer Fire Department and Onslow County Emergency Medical Services went to the scene and found the 69-year-old unresponsive.

Goines was a longtime volunteer with the Verona Volunteer Fire Department, serving the community for nearly 50 years. Officials say Goines began his service with the fire department in 1975. He is fondly remembered for his fun-loving attitude and always helping out with fundraisers and barbeques to benefit the fire department.

Chief Toby Thomas of the Verona Volunteer Fire Department, issued a statement about the passing of Goines:

“Johnny was dedicated to his fire department and to the Verona community. He was always quick to lend a hand and he brought a sense of joy and comradery to our department that will be sorely missed. He operated a landscaping business and even took care of some of our elderly residents’ yards for free because that’s the kind of guy he was.”

Services for Goines will be held at Verona Baptist Church at 3876 Wilmington Highway. Visitation will be November 27th from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and the funeral will begin at 2 p.m. The funeral procession will be led by fire engines from Verona Volunteer Fire Department and will escort Goines through the Verona community one final time before he is laid to rest in Onslow Memorial Park.