KM firefighter reflects on a career built on community
By Loretta Cozart
For more than four decades, firefighting has been a part of life for Kings Mountain native Jamie Black, who retired after 41 years of service to the Kings Mountain Fire Department on June 4.
Born at Kings Mountain Hospital and raised on Monte Vista Drive just a few blocks from downtown, he has spent nearly his entire life in the community he served.
“I went to West Elementary, and then Central for 6th and 7th grades. Junior High was 8th and 9th grade, and high school was 10th through 12th grade,” he recalled. “I graduated in 1984.”
He leaves behind a career that began almost by chance and evolved into a lifelong calling.
The path to the fire service started with neighbors who were firefighters. One was a full-time firefighter, John Wright, and another, Randy Short, served as a volunteer. It was a conversation with Randy that ultimately changed his life.
“Randy was helping me put a door on my house, and we started talking about firefighting,” he said. “He had a pager on his side, and he said, ‘The fire department has some openings. You should consider it.’ So, I thought about it.”
At the time, he was working at Kings Mountain Auto Supply when then-Fire Chief Dickey stopped by to pick up parts.
“He said Randy had mentioned that I was interested,” he recalled. “He said, ‘Hey, are you the guy that lives up the street from Randy?’ And I was like, ‘Yes, sir.’”
Chief Dickey invited him to the fire station that very day. He said, ‘Well, come on up to the fire station today, and I’ll put you on.’ It was that simple.”
Back then, Kings Mountain operated a combination department with both paid staff and volunteers. He joined as a volunteer firefighter in 1985. “We had paid staff and volunteers. I was a volunteer for 12 years, and then I got on full-time in ‘97.”
He joined the full-time department under Fire Chief Frank Burns following Chief Tignor’s retirement and has remained with the department ever since.
Throughout his career, he served in a variety of roles. He began as a firefighter engineer, serving as a driver, later became a fire inspector, and spent 10 years as assistant chief. Eventually, he returned to the rank of captain to spend more time with his family.
Today, he serves as the captain of A Shift and the city’s fire inspector.
During his long career, he witnessed significant changes in both the department and the city. Among the most memorable incidents was the historic Margrace Mill fire.
“Probably the first big fire I experienced was the Margrace Mill fire,” he said. “It’s probably the biggest. At the time, I was a volunteer.”
He also remembers the era when Kings Mountain’s textile industry was still thriving.
“When I was hired as the fire inspector, I had to put together a list of all the businesses, and we still had 13 or 14 mills running back in those days,” he said. “So, I got to experience the mill era. We had a lot of fires in the textile mills … a lot of bad fires.”
Among the other major incidents he recalls are the King Street fires, where two homes were lost to arson.
Yet when asked about his favorite memories, his answer has little to do with fire scenes.
“My best memories in firefighting are probably helping people,” he said.
One tradition that stands out is the department’s involvement with Toys for Tots. “We did Toys for Tots back when Chief Tignor was chief, and then Chief Burns took over, so all the firemen would try to fix two bicycles each,” he said. “We would fix two bicycles, then deliver them to the kids.”
“Yeah, Christmas, that is a good memory.”
As he reflects on his career, it is not the emergencies or accolades he will miss most.
“What I will miss most is the camaraderie, the table, and the talks,” he said. “We kind of take care of ourselves, you know. We clown around, that’s what we do to help each other out.”
For him, the fire department became much more than a workplace.
“That’s my second family, you know?” he said.
While retirement marks the end of his daily duties, he has no plans to stay away for long.
“I’ll come back and visit, and drink coffee with TJ and the chief, you can bet that.”
A lifelong resident, he remains grateful for the city that shaped him and the people he has served.
“In Kings Mountain, I enjoy working with people. I know a lot of people,” he said. “We really have everything you need here in the city. Charlotte’s not far away if you want to go into the big city. Our city is in a good location.”
And when he finally has a little more free time, he knows exactly where he’ll spend some of it.
“I like Moss Lake; it has good fishing,” he said. “I like to fish for Bass and Crappie.”
After 41 years of answering the call, Kings Mountain’s hometown firefighter is looking forward to quieter days on the water—but the friendships, memories, and community he helped protect will remain with him forever.
For more than four decades, firefighting has been a part of life for Kings Mountain native Jamie Black, who retired after 41 years of service to the Kings Mountain Fire Department on June 4.
Born at Kings Mountain Hospital and raised on Monte Vista Drive just a few blocks from downtown, he has spent nearly his entire life in the community he served.
“I went to West Elementary, and then Central for 6th and 7th grades. Junior High was 8th and 9th grade, and high school was 10th through 12th grade,” he recalled. “I graduated in 1984.”
He leaves behind a career that began almost by chance and evolved into a lifelong calling.
The path to the fire service started with neighbors who were firefighters. One was a full-time firefighter, John Wright, and another, Randy Short, served as a volunteer. It was a conversation with Randy that ultimately changed his life.
“Randy was helping me put a door on my house, and we started talking about firefighting,” he said. “He had a pager on his side, and he said, ‘The fire department has some openings. You should consider it.’ So, I thought about it.”
At the time, he was working at Kings Mountain Auto Supply when then-Fire Chief Dickey stopped by to pick up parts.
“He said Randy had mentioned that I was interested,” he recalled. “He said, ‘Hey, are you the guy that lives up the street from Randy?’ And I was like, ‘Yes, sir.’”
Chief Dickey invited him to the fire station that very day. He said, ‘Well, come on up to the fire station today, and I’ll put you on.’ It was that simple.”
Back then, Kings Mountain operated a combination department with both paid staff and volunteers. He joined as a volunteer firefighter in 1985. “We had paid staff and volunteers. I was a volunteer for 12 years, and then I got on full-time in ‘97.”
He joined the full-time department under Fire Chief Frank Burns following Chief Tignor’s retirement and has remained with the department ever since.
Throughout his career, he served in a variety of roles. He began as a firefighter engineer, serving as a driver, later became a fire inspector, and spent 10 years as assistant chief. Eventually, he returned to the rank of captain to spend more time with his family.
Today, he serves as the captain of A Shift and the city’s fire inspector.
During his long career, he witnessed significant changes in both the department and the city. Among the most memorable incidents was the historic Margrace Mill fire.
“Probably the first big fire I experienced was the Margrace Mill fire,” he said. “It’s probably the biggest. At the time, I was a volunteer.”
He also remembers the era when Kings Mountain’s textile industry was still thriving.
“When I was hired as the fire inspector, I had to put together a list of all the businesses, and we still had 13 or 14 mills running back in those days,” he said. “So, I got to experience the mill era. We had a lot of fires in the textile mills … a lot of bad fires.”
Among the other major incidents he recalls are the King Street fires, where two homes were lost to arson.
Yet when asked about his favorite memories, his answer has little to do with fire scenes.
“My best memories in firefighting are probably helping people,” he said.
One tradition that stands out is the department’s involvement with Toys for Tots. “We did Toys for Tots back when Chief Tignor was chief, and then Chief Burns took over, so all the firemen would try to fix two bicycles each,” he said. “We would fix two bicycles, then deliver them to the kids.”
“Yeah, Christmas, that is a good memory.”
As he reflects on his career, it is not the emergencies or accolades he will miss most.
“What I will miss most is the camaraderie, the table, and the talks,” he said. “We kind of take care of ourselves, you know. We clown around, that’s what we do to help each other out.”
For him, the fire department became much more than a workplace.
“That’s my second family, you know?” he said.
While retirement marks the end of his daily duties, he has no plans to stay away for long.
“I’ll come back and visit, and drink coffee with TJ and the chief, you can bet that.”
A lifelong resident, he remains grateful for the city that shaped him and the people he has served.
“In Kings Mountain, I enjoy working with people. I know a lot of people,” he said. “We really have everything you need here in the city. Charlotte’s not far away if you want to go into the big city. Our city is in a good location.”
And when he finally has a little more free time, he knows exactly where he’ll spend some of it.
“I like Moss Lake; it has good fishing,” he said. “I like to fish for Bass and Crappie.”
After 41 years of answering the call, Kings Mountain’s hometown firefighter is looking forward to quieter days on the water—but the friendships, memories, and community he helped protect will remain with him forever.
