K & W Motor Company, March 3, 1952. This early morning fire at 118 E. Davie Street in Raleigh destroyed 29 new and used automobiles. Seven companies battled the 2:30 a.m. blaze in a bitter cold rain. (N&O photograph by Lawrence Wofford.)

Esty Hall, December 13, 1968. This 97-year-old Shaw University dormitory sustained damaged to two rooms and a hallway. Five units responded to the 3:27 p.m. alarm. The third-floor fire was brought under control within 15 minutes. (N&O photograph by Ken Cooke.)

Stephens Supply Company, December 14, 1968. The hardware department of the Fuquay-Varina business was destroyed by this Saturday night blaze. Reported at 11:30 p.m., the town's fire departments received assistance from Raleigh, Apex, Fairview, Swift Creek, and Angier-Black River in Harnett County. (FVI photograph by William I. Oliver.)

Whitley Furniture Galleries, January 8, 1983. This 10:45 p.m. fire started in the snack room of the furniture store at 100 W. Vance St. in downtown Zebulon. Firefighters from Wendell, Knightdale, and Hopkins helped the town's fire departments bring the blaze under control by 1:30 a.m. (N&O photograph by Robert Willett.)