He was buried following a church service on Saturday, January 26, at Juniper Level Baptist Church in Raleigh. Captain Ronald Ricks, Firefighter Joseph Callender, Firefighter Patrick Canady, Lieutenant Gregory Buxton, Senior Firefighter George Jones Sr., and Senior Firefighter Michael Barnes served as pallbearers. Read NFFF memorial entry.

 

Larry W. Fanning Garner Fire Department August 2, 2006 Firefighter Larry Wayne Fanning, 57, died at his home of a heart attack, several hours after working standby at the station during a medical call. He was a 16-year veteran of the Garner Fire Department, and a 38-year veteran of the fire service. His funeral was held August 10, in Dublin, VA. Read NFFF memorial entry.

 

Todd A. 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 two-and-a-half 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 Fire Department 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. Read NFFF memorial entry.

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. Read NFFF memorial entry.

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 apparatus 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 a commercial structure fire at  1908 Hillsboro Street. 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 operator of Engine 5. Funeral services were held on April 22 at Overby Mortuary Chapel in Raleigh, with burial 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 1954 department-built, 4,500-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 apparatus. 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. He worked in light-duty roles as his health permitted, including as dispatcher. 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.