Dare County Fire Departments – Past and Present

Research notes on the histories of fire departments and fire stations in Dare County, North Carolina. Last updated March 19, 2024. 

Former fire stations. Left to right, top to bottom: Manteo, Nags Head, Kitty Hawk, Kitty Hawk, Southern Shores (demolished), Southern Shores (demolished), Avon, Buxton, Salvo (Demolished).

Former fire stations. Left to right, top to bottom: Manteo, Nags Head, Kitty Hawk, Hitty Hawk, Southern Shores (demolished), Southern Shores (demolished), Avon, Buxton, Salvo (Demolished).

Dare County Fire Departments – Past and Present

List

  • Avon
  • Buxton
  • Chicamacomico Banks
  • Colington
  • Dare Beaches Sanitary District
  • Duck
  • Frisco
  • Hatteras
  • Kill Devil Hills
  • Kitty Hawk
  • Manns Harbor
  • Manteo
  • Nags Head
  • National Parks Service
  • Naval Auxiliary Air Station Manteo
  • Naval Facility Cape Hatteras (Buxton)
  • Roanoke Island
  • Rodanthe-Waves / Rodanthe-Waves-Salvo
  • Salvo
  • Southern Shores
  • Stumpy Point
  • Wanchese Continue reading ‘Dare County Fire Departments – Past and Present’ »
Facebook Comments

Two Alarms on Karns Place

See photos by Legeros | Listen to radio traffic

Two alarms were struck on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at a residential structure fire in the 2100 block of Karns Place in very north Raleigh. Dispatched 3:02 a.m. Upgraded to working fire while units were en route, due to callers reporting that the entire structure was involved, and that fire had spread to the house next door.

Wake Forest Engine 5, dispatched as auto-aid, was first-arriving. They reported two houses on fire, and with the primary fire building heavily involved. Both were two-story, single-family dwellings, built the early 2000s. Raleigh Engine 25 was right behind them. There was a hydrant located in front of Engine 5.


Mike Legeros photos

Crews made an interior attack to start. Within five minutes of arrival, a second alarm was requested. Staging was designed at Hopeson and Falls River Avenue. Defensive operations on the primary fire building started about 20 minutes after arrival. Evacuation tones were sounded and crews were withdrawn. 

In addition to the second alarm companies, Engine 15 and Rescue 16 were added to the call, clearing a overturned tractor-trailer truck with a fuel leak on I-540 at Six Forks Road, that occurred just before this fire. Engine 22 and Ladder 22 were on that call, and would have otherwise been first-due to the fire.

Three aerials were deployed (L15 and L4 in front, L23 in rear), two flowed during suppression (L15, L4) and the third (L23) flowed during overhaul. At least one ground monitor was used in the rear of the structure. Three hydrants supplied water, including one with a supply line brought by Engine 9 to Ladder 23. The fire was controlled at 4:29 a.m. There were no reported injuries. 

The primary fire building at 2108 Karns Place was a two-story, single-family dwelling with 2,303 square-feet. Built 2005.

The involved exposure at 2104 Karns Place was a two-story, single-family dwelling with 2,072 square-feet. Built 2003.

There were three occupants in each structure, both families were displaced. 


WRAL image

Run Card

From radio traffic:

0301 – E25 E4 E19 E18 L15 L4 Sq7 (rescue resource) B4 B5 ISO14 + EMS44
0301 – WFFD E5
0308 – EMS__ EMS41 EMS51
0308 – A28 B3 DC1 INV1 (working fire)
0313 – E28 E23 E9 L23 L6 (second alarm)
0314 – E22 (clearing I-540, added to call, but didn’t report to scene)
0315 – R16 (clearing I-540)
0318 – E15 (clearing I-540)
0323 – L14 to 15
0324 – E17 to 25
0350 – EMS42
0408 – L14 to 4
0409 – E27 to 19

Plus: B1, Asst. Chief of Training

Facebook Comments

Female Firefighters in North Carolina

To celebrate Women’s History Month, here are 125+ newspaper articles on the history of female firefighters in North Carolina, both volunteer and career, from 1973 to present. Primary sources are newspapers.com (paid) and Digital North Carolina Newspapers (free). Most of the stories are from earlier decades. View via this Google Drive.

Facebook Comments

Run Card for Manns Harbor


Vicki Silverthorne photo

Listen to radio traffic

Run card for the major commercial structure fire at 6300 US 64 in Manns Harbor in Dare County on February 27, 2024. 

Sta 11 – Duck (32.0 miles) E11
Sta 12 – Southern Shores E12
E121
Rehab 12
Sta 13 – Kitty Hawk E13
Sta 14 – Kill Devil Hills Truck 14 (Sutphen tower, 1500/300/100′)
Sta 15 – Colington E151 (secondary drafting supply)
Chief 15
Rehab 15
Sta 16 – Nags Head
Sta 21 – Nags Head
E21
Deputy Chief 16
Squad 16 (manpower)
Sta 17 – Roanoke Island
Sta 17 – Wanchese
Chief 17
Asst. Chief 17
Tanker 17
Truck 17 (Pierce tower, 2000/300/100′)
Engine 171
1732
1735
Sta 18 – Manns Harbor 1823
1827
E18
Tanker 18
Sta 19 – Stumpy Point 1923
E19 (pumping from pond, as water point)
Sta 40 – Hatteras (68.5 miles) E40
Sta 42 – Frisco E42
Sta 44 – Buxton E441
BC?
Sta 46 – Avon E46
Sta 48 – Salvo  
Sta 50 – Chicamacomico Banks E503
   
Forest Service 1321
____ (6,000 gallon tanker)
Corrolla E66
M62 (manpower support)
BC
Currituck County Fire BC106 
Currituck County EMS 101
Mass Casualty Bus
Dare County EMS Medic 21
Dare County FM FM1
Lower Currituck Engine
Tyrrell County Tanker #1
Tanker #2
Others?
TBD Deputy Chief 1 (EMS?)
TBD MSU1
Facebook Comments

Fatal Ambulance Accidents in North Carolina

Research notes on fatal ambulance accidents in North Carolina. Most involve collisions with other vehicles. Sources include newspapers.com, Digital North Carolina Newspapers, the Fayetteville Observer archives via News Bank, and numerous Google searches. 

See source documents in this Google Drive.

2020 to 2024 

February 13, 2024 – Cumberland County
Cape Fear Valley Medical Center ambulance collided with a Dodge Dakota pick-up truck on Butler Nursery Road near Nash Road just about 10:30 p.m. The ambulance was operating its emergency lights and travelling eastbound. It had slowed to make a left turn into residential driveway when the driver of the truck attempted to pass the emergency unit. The resulting collision caused the truck to leave the roadway and strike a tree. The 42 year-old female driver of the truck died at the hospital early the next morning. The two EMS members aboard the ambulance were not seriously injured. Two others riding in the truck sustained non-life threatening injuries. Investigators estimated that the truck was travelling 70 mph in a 45 mph zone. The accident happened less than two miles from the driver’s home. Source: Fayetteville Observer, 2/17/24; WRAL, 2/24/24.

August 3, 2023 – Pender County – Two Killed
Pender EMS & Fire ambulance collided with a 2010 Ford Edge SUV on US 117 near St. Helena around 2:00 p.m. The SUV crossed the center line and struck the ambulance head-on. Three other vehicles were also involved in the crash. The ambulance was transporting a 54 year-old female from Jacksonville to Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington. The transported patient died at the scene. The driver of the SUV was hospitalized and died of her injuries on August 12. She had been charged with driving while impaired, and other drivers had reported her erratic driving just before the collision. The two EMS crew members were seriously injured. Source: Carolina Coast Online, 8/6/23; WWAY, 8/14/23.

April 25, 2023 – Johnston County
MedEx medical transport ambulance collided with a motorcycle on Barbour Road near Wilson’s Mills Road just before 4:52 p.m. The motorcycle crossed the centerline into the path of the emergency vehicle. The 35 year-old male motorcyclist was ejected and died from his injuries. Source: Johnston County Report, 4/26/23; WCNC, 4/26/23.

June 19, 2022 – Duplin County – Patient Killed After Exiting Ambulance
Womack Army Medical Center [correct?] ambulance was carrying a solider from Fort Bragg, who had become ill during a training exercise, and had been diverted from Womack to the Naval Hospital at Camp Lejeune, due to limited beds at Womack. There were two EMTs in the ambulance along with an Army Sergeant escorting the patient. The ambulance was traveling eastbound on I-40 near Warsaw. There was a struggle that started inside the back of the ambulance. The ambulance pulled onto the shoulder of the interstate and came to a stop. The 28-year old male patient jumped out the back door of the ambulance, ran toward US 117, and was struck by an oncoming vehicle on US 117, and died at the scene. He was pronounced dead at 3:47 a.m. Investigators believed that the patient’s exit from the ambulance was related to his medical condition. Source: News12, 6/23/22; WRAL, 6/23/22.

January 22, 2022 – Wake County – Cardiac Patient Died After Collision, During Transport By Second Ambulance
METZ medical transport ambulance crashed on Interstate 87 near Exit 13 near Knightdale Boulevard around 4:00 a.m. The ambulance hit a patch of black ice, left the roadway, and overturned down an embankment. It was transporting a cardiac patient to Duke University. The patient went into cardiac arrest while being transported from the crash site by a second ambulance and died at the hospital. The two ambulance workers were also hurt. Source: JEMS, 1/21/22.

Continue reading ‘Fatal Ambulance Accidents in North Carolina’ »

Facebook Comments

Charlotte Fire Museum History


Left, news photo from 1979 via eBay. Right, Legeros photo from December 2008.

This posting is a series of research notes.

See source documents in this Google drive.

Read a history of Charlotte’s former and historic firehouses

First Iteration (Failed), Old Station 2

1969, January – Plans to open a fire museum are announced at a meeting of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce by Michael G. Allen, chairman of the Fire Prevention Committee. The museum “would contain old fire trucks, fire fighting equipment and uniforms.” He named John Pipkin “chairman of a committee to investigate the possibilities of such a museum” Source: Charlotte News, Jan 30, 1969. 

1972 – Theo Wolfe, owner Floyd Fowler Brake & Wheel Alignment Service & Radiator Repairs, tried and failed to buy Old Station 2, the Dilworth station, that his auto repair establishment occupied. The property owners instead later sold the building to the fire museum organizers. Source: Charlotte News, Aug 4, 1976.

1975, May – By this time a group of citizens had been “working for years” to turn the Dilworth station into a fire museum. They wanted to restore the building to its pre-World War I appearance and estimated that almost $200,000 would be needed to buy the property and restore the building. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Properties Commission planned to hold hearings over the next few months. They would then ask city council to declare the building a historic site, which would provide “temporary protection” from major alterations or demolition. Source: Charlotte News, May 20, 1975.

Continue reading ‘Charlotte Fire Museum History’ »

Facebook Comments

Renovations Started at Cary Station 4

On January 19, 2024, personnel at Cary Fire Station 4 at 1401 Old Apex Road were relocated from their 1987 engine house to a temporary facility added at the front of the building. Engine 4 was moved into a metal shelter beside a modular living unit. The other unstaffed units at Station 4, including a brush truck, Support 4, and an ATV, were relocated to other facilities. 

The temporary buildings will be occupied for a year, as Station 4 undergoes extensive renovations that will extend the building’s useable life and mitigate major maintenance and repairs for some 20 years. The resulting “like new” station will include such improvements as an added workout room, energy efficient LED lighting, a fire sprinkler system, and bi-fold doors. The exterior appearance of the building will also be updated.  

Station 4 was erected in 1987 and opened in 1988. The three-acre lot was purchased in June 1985. The bid for architectural and engineering services was awarded in July 1986. The site plan was approved in January 1987. The construction contracts were awarded in March 1987.

Station 4 was activated on [goes here] and also housed the town’s first aerial ladder company, Truck 4, which operated a 1988 Pierce Arrow rear-mounted aerial tower. It was placed in service in April-May 1988. An open house at the new station was held on January 29, 1989.

See more Legeros photos.

Background

Continue reading ‘Renovations Started at Cary Station 4’ »

Facebook Comments

Major Fires of 2023

Looking back at last year, these were the major fires plus a couple other notable incidents.

1/21/2023
1100 Logger Court
Offices
2 alarms
Dispatched 10:02 p.m. Controlled 10:43 p.m. 
Blog post | Legeros photos

2/4/2023
4707 Walden Pond Drive
Townhomes
2 alarms
Dispatched 11:51 p.m. Controlled ~12:27 a.m.
Blog post | Legeros photos

2/5/2023
9401 Prince George Lane
Townhomes
2 alarms
Plus 3rd alarm struck for mayday, cancelled
Dispatched 6:12 a.m. Controlled 7:13 a.m.
Blog post | Legeros photos

Note: On the evening of February 5 through the morning of February 6, there were four working fires, including the above two extra-alarm fires. 

4/12/2023
4937 Southern Magnolia Drive
Townhomes
2 alarms
Dispatched 12:22 p.m. Controlled 12:58 p.m. 
Blog post | Legeros photos

6/16/2023
1810 New Hope Road
Assisted living
2 alarms
Dispatched 2:49 p.m. Controlled ~3:15 p.m. 
Extended operations for overhaul, air monitoring, and shelter/rehab for both responders and all occupants of the evacuated facility.
Blog post

12/30/2023
5919 Hourglass Court
Townhomes
2 alarms
Dispatched 3:21 a.m. Controlled 4:49 a.m. 
Blog post | Legeros photos

Notes

Mutual aid to major incidents outside the city are not included, such as two alarms in Knightdale on July 4 at a house fire on Whispering Creek Court. 

Other Notable Incidents

Some of the other incidents of note from last year have included: 

3/8/23
Hunting Ridge Road
Extended haz-mat incident, fuel spill containment in residential neighborhood + golf course.

8/8/23
Person Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway
Former Lightner Funeral Home
Interior attack with extended operations due to difficulty accessing “cut up” interior spaces. Special call for two sets of two additional engines. 

8/24/2023
2729 S. Wilmington Street
Motel
2nd alarm equivalent
High-life hazard response added, which resulted in the equivalent of a second-alarm’s worth of resources on scene. 

Facebook Comments

Parking Deck Fire on Hillsborough Street

See Legeros photos | Listen to radio traffic


Mike Legeros photos

On Sunday, January 7, 2024, Raleigh Engine 5 and Ladder 6 were dispatched at 4:56 p.m. for a commercial fire alarm at 3001 Hillsborough Street, five-story student apartments, with first-floor commercial occupancies plus five-story parking deck.

Engine 5 arrived with nothing showing from the front of the building. Ladder 6 arrived and reported heavy smoke seen from the parking deck. The call was upgraded to a working structure fire and additional units were dispatched.


Image via @barstoolpack on Instagram

Crews found vehicles burning on the fourth level of the parking deck. A mini-pumper was dispatched, to access the deck and the fire floor. Lines from the standpipe system were also used, along with a line brought from the ground level, using Ladder 6. 

Command called for one additional engine during the incident. The command post was located behind the building on ME Valentine Drive. Medical monitoring and rehab was located at the northeast corner of the building, at Hillsborough Street and Friendly Drive. 

The fire was controlled at 5:39 p.m. Three vehicles were heavily damaged, started from initial vehicle that caught fire. Five others also were also damaged. There was extended overhaul, that included smoke removal on the deck levels and subsequent air monitoring.

The entire structure was evacuated as a precaution during the incident. 

Run Card

  • Fire alarm: E5 L6
  • Working fire: E8 E6 L14 Sq14 R16 B3 B5 SO14 DC1 INV1 A10
  • Special call: MP7
  • Special call: E13
  • Medical: EMS12 EMS18 EMS79 D1

Radio Traffic

Listen to radio traffic

Watch Videos

Facebook Comments

Wake County Fire Commission Meeting – January 11, 2024

The Wake County Fire Commission will hold a regular meeting on Thursday, January 11, 2023, at 6:00 p.m., at the Wake County Emergency Services Education Center, 221 S. Rogers Lane, Raleigh, NC 27610.

View agenda and meeting documents.

Facebook Comments