Todd Alan Blanchard
Eastern Wake Fire Department
July 14, 2005
Firefighter Todd Alan Blanchard, 31, died from injuries suffered at a fire at the intersection of Turnipseed Road and Major Slade Road in the unincorporated Knightdale area. Blanchard was one of a three-member crew returning to the scene of an earlier tree fire. They arrived at 12:42 a.m. and applied water to the smoldering area, and then approached the tree to examine the smoldering area more closely. As the crew walked toward the tree, a limb approximately 2.5 feet in diameter broke and struck Blanchard. The two firefighters with Blanchard removed the limb and began CPR when they determined that the firefighter's breathing and heart had stopped. Paramedics arrived at the scene and initiated advanced life support  treatment. He was transported to WakeMed and declared dead about 2:30 a.m. The cause of death was massive chest trauma. Blanchard had worked as a full-time firefighter for Eastern Wake for approximately two years. Memorial services were held at Edenton Street United Methodist Church in downtown Raleigh on  Saturday, July 16. Over a mile of fire and EMS vehicles from Wake, Cumberland, Durham, Harnett, Johnston, Nash, and Wayne counties escorted mourners from Eastern Wake Station 1 on Poole Road to the church.

Patrick J. Dougherty
Garner Fire Department
April 7, 1993
Firefighter Patrick J. "Pat" Dougherty, 37, died of a heart attack during salvage operations at a house fire at 516 Poplar Drive on April 7, 1993. At approximately 11:45 p.m., he complained of feeling week.  He collapsed while being examined by EMS personnel and was pronounced dead at Wake Medical Center of a massive heart attack. Funeral services were held on April 10 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Garner. Fire units from Garner (E1, E2), Bay Leaf (E258), Durham Highway (E2), Fairgrounds (E198), Fuquay-Varina (E2, E5), Morrisville (E2) New Hope (E1), Six Forks (E121), Wake Forest (E63), and Yrac (E293) participated in the procession to Montlawn Memorial Park in Raleigh the same day. Dougherty, owner of an auto repair business, was a volunteer member of the Garner Fire Department from August 1988 to June 1992, and had rejoined in January 1993.

Norwood C.  Massengill
Fairgrounds Fire Department
February 10, 1971
Assistant Chief Norwood C. "Dick" Massengill, 57, died of a heart attack while returning from a false alarm on February 10, 1971. Massengill was operating the fire engine when it collided with trees in a residential yard on Grand Avenue about 2:23 p.m. He was found dead upon arrival of the Raleigh Fire Department rescue squad. Funeral services were held on February 12 at Apex Funeral Home, with burial at Montlawn Memorial Park in Raleigh the same day. Massengill, a mechanic, was a charter member of the volunteer Fairgrounds Fire Department, organized in 1961.

Paul A. Mimms
Raleigh Fire Department
April 20, 1965
Firefighter II Paul A. "Pallie" Mimms, 41, died of an apparent heart attack while operating a pumper at  1908 Hillsboro Street on April 20, 1965. He fainted at the pump panel and was pronounced dead on arrival at Rex Hospital. The fire at Norden Laboratories Incorporated was discovered about 12:15 a.m.; Mimms was the driver of Engine 5. Funeral services were held on April 22 at Overby Mortuary Chapel in Raleigh, with buried at Montlawn Memorial Park the same day. Mimms joined the Raleigh Fire Department on July 16, 1951. More information.

Vernon L. Thompson
Cary Fire Department
June 16, 1960
Firefighter Vernon Lee Thompson, 28, was killed and Firefighter Willis Edward (Billy) Henderson, 32, was injured when their 4,200-gallon, tractor-drawn tanker overturned near Meredith College on June 16, 1960. The accident occurred about 10:00 a.m., while they were turning from US 1 onto a service road that ran between college property and the State College animal husbandry farm. Both were thrown from the open-cab vehicle. Thompson was pinned under the cab and died after gasoline leaking from the fuel tank under the seat was apparently ignited by an electrical short. Raleigh firefighters and other rescue workers spent nearly two hours recovering Thompson's body. The first wrecker sent to the scene was unable to raise the truck. A larger, second wrecker was called and lifted the cab enough for Thompson's body to be removed. Both Thompson and Henderson were state employees working at nearby Camp Polk prison farm and were en route to extinguish the rekindling of a trash fire near the prison dump from the night before. Henderson was driving about 15 miles an hour when the accident occurred. Pavement markings stretched about 120 feet, created by the pressure of the heavy, slowing truck. The cab of the tanker was destroyed; the apparatus was not returned to service. Funeral services were held on June 18 at Cary Baptist Church, with burial at Cary Cemetery the same day. Thompson was a volunteer member of the Cary Fire Department.

Vernon J. Smith
Raleigh Fire Department
March 10, 1956
Driver Vernon J. Smith, 44, died at Rex Hospital, succumbing to injuries occurred November 14, 1952 while operating Engine 6. The 1926 American LaFrance pumper, being operated as a reserve unit, overturned while returning from a call at the sharp curve where Brooks Avenue turns into Lewis Farm Road. The 1:00 p.m. accident also pinned Captain James T. White under the wreckage and injured the three firefighters hanging onto the tailboard. The accident was blamed on a broken brake lever and the City Council immediately approved funding for a new pumper, to retire the other 1926 reserve pumper as soon as possible. The other firefighters recovered from their injuries, while Smith underwent 29 operations before his death. Funeral services were held on March 12 at Hayes Barton Baptist Church, with burial at Montlawn Cemetery the same day. Fire Chief Jack B. Keeter, Assistant Fire Chief R. Lee Matthews, and fire department members James M. Burnette, James T. White, Herbert E. Partin, and Jack T. Wall served as pallbearers. Smith joined the Raleigh Fire Department on July 17, 1942. More information.