By NICOLE CARTRETTE

A curious little boy watches his father leave to fight fires in the middle of the night. The boy peers out a window, looking for flames and smoke.

It’s a vivid memory to newly appointed Whiteville Fire Chief John Cook.

His father was a volunteer with the Hallsboro Fire Department and at 18 he became a volunteer fireman, too.

Cook was appointed the city’s full time fire chief on July 12 after serving as interim fire chief for more than nine months.

He may be the first chief promoted from within the department in more than 25 years.

“I never dreamed one day my name would be at the top,” Cook said as he looked at a roster hanging on the wall of his office.

Being promoted from within the department has advantages, he said.

“It’s not like you come in as a new kid on the block,” Cook said. “You know what works and what doesn’t.”

Cook began working with the city fire department in 1986 as a part-time employee.

He transferred from the city water department in 1990 to become a full time engineer with the fire department.

Since becoming full time in 1990, he has worked under two interim and two full-time fire chiefs.

A part-time inspector for Columbus County from 1998-2005, Cook resigned to take on the duties of interim chief.

Cook said things are running smoothly with inspections and required training is on target.

“Part-time fire fighters have been more involved than before,” Cook said. “The way I see it is they are employees like the full-time guys and deserve opportunities, too. Everybody is a part of this department.

“We [have] a tremendous department when it comes to the personnel,” Cook added.

His objectives for the department are clear.

“We’re going to keep doing our job to protect the life and property of citizens of Whiteville.”

Cook, 44, is a lifelong resident of Columbus County and resides in the Beaverdam Community. His mother is Myrtle Corbett and his late father was John V. Cook.