Onslow County Fire & Rescue head fired over “unacceptable” personal conduct and job performance

ONSLOW COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - More shakeups in leadership are underway in Onslow County after the firing of a second long-time employee since November.

A public records request submitted by WITN shows Adam Ketchum was terminated as Fire and Rescue division head on December 10, 2024, after serving in the role since 2020.

Onslow County says Ketchum was hired on February 27, 2012, as an emergency responder.

A termination letter signed by Assistant County Manager Kari Sanders lists “unacceptable” personal conduct and job performance as reasons for his dismissal.

It says he was placed on investigative leave on November 1, 2024. During that investigation, Sanders says they found Ketchum displayed a lack of leadership which left the division in an “unorganized state of disarray.” Staff, external partners and fire chiefs referred to it as a “free for all,” according to the letter.

Reasons for this are listed as disorganization with scheduling, uniform replacement and poor communication with the county. The letter goes on to say that Ketchum communicated with county employees while he was on investigatory leave despite being directed otherwise.

Ketchum worked in crash crew maintenance starting in July 2012 and switched back to the title of emergency responder in December 2015 before becoming Fire and Rescue division head in May 2020.

WITN submitted this public records request on December 11 but did not receive a response until Thursday.

This is one of two major changes in Onslow County leadership in recent months.

In mid-November, WITN learned that Norm Bryson had been replaced as emergency services director after serving the county for than 22 years.

Few details have been provided as to why that change was made.

Jeremy Foster is serving as interim Fire and Rescue division head for now.

WITN tried to reach Ketchum via multiple phone numbers but we were unable to reach him for comment.