Radiator Specialty Company Explosion – November 26, 1980

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This is a blog version of a Facebook posting from April 6, 2025.

Looking back at the Radiator Specialty Company explosion and fire in Union County, NC, on November 26, 1980, from newspaper accounts in the Charlotte News and Charlotte Observer over the next couple days.

On a Wednesday morning, just after 9 a.m., an explosion and fire caused heavy damage and injured dozens of workers at the Radiator Specialty Company chemical plant off US 74 in Indian Springs, about four miles across the Mecklenburg County line.

The explosion was caused by an apparent electrical short from a measuring scale on an assembly line. There was also a gas leak and the spark ignited the concreted fumes. It triggered a chain of four explosions.

The blast was felt up to ten miles away and the resulting fire produced a plume of heavy black smoke. Many workers ran from the building with their clothes and hair of fire.

Indian Trail, Bakers, Hemby Bridge, Unionville, Stallings, and Wesley Chapel fire departments responded, along with rescue units from both Union and Mecklenburg counites.

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Charlotte and Mecklenburg County Rescue and EMS History

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Presenting researching notes on the history of rescue and ambulance services in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.

Read research notes (pdf)

See Google Drive folder of clippings.

Summary

Before 1960

  • 1921 – First advertisements appear for ambulance services in newspapers. Operators are car and taxi companies.
  • 1926 – Funeral homes begin adding ambulance services. 
  • 1947 – Charlotte Life Saving and First Aid Crew organized. But they’re not an ambulance service at the start. 
  • 1957 – Carolina Medical Services Inc. started operating a new division in Charlotte and a short-lived ambulance service, about six weeks.
  • 1958 – Charlotte Life Saving and First Aid Crew criticized for their inadequate response after two children drown in culvert. City officials discuss options, including proposal from fire chief to form a rescue squad. The life saving squad receives a donated ambulance as a result. 
  • 1959 – North Mecklenburg Volunteer Rescue Squad created in Huntersville.

1960 to 1969

  • 1960 – City informed by funeral directors that they want out of the ambulance business that year. 
  • 1960 – Ambulance Service of Charlotte, Inc. begins operating.
  • 1961 – South Mecklenburg Life Saving and Rescue Crew, Inc., is organized.
  • 1962 – UMECK Rescue Squad, Inc., is organized.
  • 1966 – North Mecklenburg Volunteer Rescue Squad took over ambulance service in the Davidson, Huntersville, and Cornelius areas.
  • 1966 – North Mecklenburg Ambulance Service, Inc., began operation. Formed by members of North Mecklenburg Volunteer Rescue Squad, it was a paid organization that provided daytime EMS and rescue coverage, while the volunteer rescue squad answered calls at night. 
  • 1968 – Steele Creek VFD started providing ambulance service.

1970 to 1979

  • 1974 – Mint Hill ambulance service started.
  • 1974 – County takes over responsibility for county-wide ambulance service. Charlotte Ambulance Service, Inc., begins operating with a new contract with the county. They are renamed as Mecklenburg Emergency Medical Service (MEMS).
  • 1975c – Wilkinson Boulevard VFD started providing ambulance service.
  • 1977 – Snapshot. County franchised providers are MEMS, Mint Hill VFD, North Mecklenburg Ambulance Service, Inc., Overlapping services include the life saving squad, North Mecklenburg RS, UMECK RS, and fire department ambulances. 
  • 1978 – New county ambulance service started, MEDIC. 

1980 to 1999

  • 1989 – North Mecklenburg Ambulance Service ended operations. It’s service area was taken over by MEDIC and most of their employees were hired by MEDIC.
  • 1991 – Matthews Rescue & EMS organized. 
  • 1996 – County began contracting with a new MEDIC agency, named Mecklenburg EMS Agency, Inc. They took control of the county’s existing fleet and stations along with most of its EMS equipment and supplies. All current employees were offered jobs with no loss of salary or benefits. The new agency was governed by a seven-member board, with three officials from the owners of Carolinas Medical Center, three officials from the owners of Presbyterian Hospital, and one county official. 

2000 to Present

  • 2008 – Matthews Rescue & EMS merged with Matthews-Morningstar Fire to create Matthews Fire & EMS. 
  • 2017 – North Mecklenburg Volunteer Rescue Squad ceased operating.
  • 2019 – Mint Hill Fire & EMS ceased ambulance operations.
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North Carolina Fallen Firefighters Ceremony – May 10, 2025

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On Saturday, May 10, 2025, the following names will be added to the North Carolina Fallen Firefighters Memorial at the annual ceremony in downtown Raleigh. See below for narratives and notes, about each member and how they died.  

  • John Alexander Bowen  – Fayetteville  – 4/16/22
  • Nathan Clark Burgess  – Raleigh  – 11/12/23
  • Tony Ray Garrison – Garren Creek – 9/27/24
  • Thomas Minter Lee – Kill Devil Hills  – 2/19/24
  • Jeffrey Marc Lyons – Asheville  – 11/16/22
  • Anthony “Tony” Bryant Mauldin  – Fuquay-Varina  – 11/26/22
  • Joshua Nelson McLamb – Salemburg – 6/7/22
  • Ronnie Buren Metcalf  – Lexington  – 3/29/24
  • Jason Eugene Moody – Maggie Valley  – 10/26/23
  • Thomas Ray Patterson – Louisburg  – 9/12/24
  • Troy Carter Thompson – Seven Springs – 10/4/23  
  • Darrell Wayne Woodard – Savannah – 12/29/20
  • Brandon Scott Carver Yaeger  – Bethany  – 5/31/22

Narrative Notes 

John Alexander Bowen, 35
Battalion Chief, Fayetteville
Died 4/16/22
Cancer – Died after a colon cancer diagnosis in 2021.
Age 35
Funeral was April 19, 2022, at Sardis Presbyterian Church. Burial followed at the church cemetery. 
Read NCFFF memorial page
Read NFFF memorial page

Nathan Clark Burgess, 49
Captain, Raleigh
11/12/23
Cancer – Died 18 months after diagnosis of throat cancer.
A memorial service was held on November 19 at the Johnston Community College auditorium in Smithfield. 
On February 1, 2024, the North Carolina Industrial Commission recognized his passing as a line-of-duty death.
Read NCFFF memorial page
Read NFFF memorial page

Tony Ray Garrison, 51
Firefighter, Garren Creek (Buncombe)
9/27/24
Collapse/Landslide – Died during response to Hurricane Helene, during rescue operations after a landslide, when a second landslide occurred. He was also a battalion chief with Fairview FD. 
Funeral service was held on October 23, 2024, at Trinity of Fairview, 646 Concord Road in Fletcher. Burial followed at Chestnut Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in Fairview.
Read NCFFF memorial page
Read NFFF memorial page

Thomas Minter Lee, 82
Assistant Fire Chief, Kill Devil Hills
2/19/24
Cardiac – Found unresponsive at home after participating in department fitness training the same day. 
A memorial service was held on February 24, 2024, at Nags Head Church, 105 West Sound Side Road.
Read NCFFF memorial page
Read NFFF memorial page

Jeffrey Marc Lyons, 61
Safety and Training Officer, Asheville
11/16/22
Cancer – Died of neuroendocrine cancer, diagnosed in 2022. 
A memorial service was held on November 21, 2022, at Chapel of West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Avenue, Weaverville. Burial was conducted at a later date. 
Read NCFFF memorial page
Read NFFF memorial page

Anthony “Tony” Bryant Mauldin, 60
Fire Chief, Fuquay-Varina (Wake Co.)
11/26/22
Cancer 
Funeral was held December 1, 2022, at Fuquay-Varina Baptist Church, 301 North Woodrow Street. Burial followed at Wake Chapel Memorial Gardens, 905 Wake Chapel Road Fuquay-Varina.
Read NCFFF memorial page
Read NFFF memorial page

Joshua Nelson McLamb, 53
Salemburg (Sampson Co.)
6/7/22
Cancer – Died of colon rectal cancer. 
Funeral was June 11, 2022 at Clinton Family Worship Center, 103 Raiford Street, Clinton. Burial followed at Corinth Baptist Church Cemetery, 991 Corinth Church Road, Salemburg.
Read NCFFF memorial page

Ronnie Buren Metcalf, 53
Captain, Lexington
3/29/24
Burns – Died of three days later, after being rescued at a house fire, after he was reported missing inside the structure. 
Funeral was April 6, 2024, at Mt. Zion Wesleyan Church-222, Mt. Zion Church Road, Thomasville. It was followed by a private burial. 
Read NCFFF memorial page
Read NFFF memorial page

Jason Eugene Moody, 57
Captain, Maggie Valley
10/26/23 
Cause TBD.
Memorial service was held on November 4, 2023, at Calvary Road Baptist Church. 2701 Soco Road, Maggie Valley.
Read NCFFF memorial page

Thomas Ray Patterson, 74
Captain, Louisburg
9/12/24
Cardiac
Found unresponsive at home after responding to two emergency calls earlier that afternoon. 
Memorial service was held September 15, 2024, at the Louisburg College Auditorium. The burial was private. 
Read NCFFF memorial page
Read NFFF memorial page

Troy Carter Thompson, 46
Firefighter, Seven Springs (Wayne Co.)
10/4/23
Cardiac – Died at the hospital after he was stricken while working at the scene of a vehicle accident earlier that evening. 
Memorial service was held October 8, 2023, at the Seven Springs fire station.
Read NCFFF memorial page
Read NFFF memorial page

Darrell Wayne Woodard, 66
Fire Chief,  Savannah (Jackson Co.)
12/29/20
COVID – Died 26 days after exposure at a fire call. 
Funeral was January 3, 2021, at Victory Baptist Church. Burial followed at Zion Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.
Read NCFFF memorial page

Brandon Scott Carver Yaeger, 32
Firefighter/Driver, Bethany  (Rockingham Co.)
5/31/22
Cardiac – Found deceased in bunkroom at fire station. 
Funeral was June 7, 2022, at the Rockingham County High School Auditorium. Burial followed at Bethany United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Read NCFFF memorial page.

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Kernersville Helicopter Rescue and Crash, September 25 1984

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This is a blog version of a Facebook posting on March 25, 2025

Recounting the fatal helicopter crash in downtown Kernersville on September 25, 1984, during the attempted rescue/recovery of an injured worker atop a decommissioned water tower.

The incident started about 6:10 p.m. after 19 year-old Charles Glenwood Tompkins Jr. as injured while working atop a water tower that was being dismantled. He was cutting a 20-foot section of metal from the top of one of the tower legs. The metal beam fell in the wrong direction and crushed his legs. He was 92 feet above the ground, the NTSB report later noted. Initial reports were 110-feet.

The resulting response included Kernersville Fire, Forsyth County EMS, Forsyth Rescue Squad, and Winston-Salem Fire Department. The latter included a battalion chief and Aerial __, a 75-foot snorkel. Readers, anyone with a surviving run card or summary?

There were at least 45 members of EMS, rescue, and fire departments, along with at least nine officers from the town, the county, and the highway patrol. For more than two hours, crews attempted to reach the injured man.

After the fire department’s snorkel proved too short, a “cherry picker” from F. H. Goode’s tree service was brought to the scene. Two fences were cut down, so the bucket truck could get closer. The 90-foot reach was also too short.

Rescuers Climb the Tower Continue reading ‘Kernersville Helicopter Rescue and Crash, September 25 1984’ »

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The Davie Street Fire in Greensboro – April 13, 1985

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Joseph Rodriguez / Greensboro News and Record photos

On April 13, 1985, the largest fire in Greensboro’s history destroyed turn-of-the-last-century warehouse buildings–including some that were nearly finished being renovated into apartments–on both sides of the 300 block of South Davie Street. The three-alarm fire was battled for hours, it destroyed and severely damaged seven buildings, and kept fire crews on scene for eleven days. One person was killed, a homeless man whose body was discovered six days later. Here are research notes compiled from news reports, the Greensboro Fire Department 1990 history book, and other sources. 

See photos and clippings in this Google drive.

The Setting

April 13, 1985. Temperatures in the lows 60s. Sky was clear. [GFD90]

The 300 block of W. Davie Street. Commercial and warehouse buildings built in the 1910s and originally occupied by the Dixie Belle Textile Company on the east side of the street and the Odell Hardware Company on the west side of the street. [GFD90]

The buildings being extensively renovated as part of a highly publicized development. Called Greensborough Court, it was hoped to transform the area into a large downtown residential, retail, and office occupancy. [GFD90]

That night, Mrs. Elsie Troxler and friends were returning home from a party about 10:45 p.m. They observed white smoke and flames coming from one of the buildings. [GFD90]

Unable to find a nearby phone, they drove to the bus station at 321 West Friendly Avenue. [GFD90]

At the bus station, employee Mrs. Betty Strader reported the fire to Communications at 10:54 p.m. [GFD90]

Initial Timeline Continue reading ‘The Davie Street Fire in Greensboro – April 13, 1985’ »

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Cold War History – Ground Observer Corps

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Added Information – 2025

On April 16, 1956, Raleigh City Council approved a request from Civil Defense authorities to use the fifth floor of the Raleigh Fire Department drill tower as a temporary ground observer station. See excerpt below, as well as council’s rejection of establishing an observatory post in the Jaycee Park.

By December 1956 in Forsyth County, an observation tower had been added on the roof of the Kernersville fire station.

Original Posting

This is a re-posting of a Legeros Blog Archives posting from January 6, 2010, that’s no longer available on the old site, due to technical problems.

One of the interesting civil defense programs of the 1950s was the Ground Observer Corps. They had their roots in World War II, when 1.5 million civilians watched for enemy aircraft on the nation’s coasts. Enrolled by the Army Air Forces, they manned 14,000 observation posts. Our country had limited radar capabilities at the time, and these volunteers literally watched the skies. As the threat from German and Japanese air forces declined, the program was disestablished in 1944.

In February 1950, an Air Force Commander proposed formation of the Ground Observer Corps. These civilian volunteers would number 160,000 and staff 8,000 observation posts in the gaps between proposed radar network sites. Recruitment was easy, as the Korean War was perceived as a precursor to a possible Russian attack. In 1951, the first  national drill of the system was conducted. Some 210,000 volunteers at 8,000 observation posts and 26 filter centers. The latter were regional communication centers, that “filtered” the reports from the observation posts.
 


 

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Renovations at Raleigh Fire Station 7

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Renovations are poised to start at Raleigh Fire Station 7 at 2100 Glascock Street. The 1959 engine house will be upgraded with improvements including new bathrooms and showers, new windows and flooring, LED lighting, and bifold bay doors.

During the estimated four-month project, Squad 7 will move to Fire Station 11 at 2925 Glenridge Road. The move is scheduled for March 31.

Squad 7 also cross-staffs a mini-pumper + boat trailer + trench rescue trailer. The trailers will be parked at Station 11 Along with a towing vehicle, old Haz-Mat 8.

Mini 7 will be housed at Station 3 and cross-staffed by Engine 3.

Read a history of Station 7.

Read the city press release.

View floor plans from construction bid drawings, found via Google. 

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Tarrytown Mall Fire – August 12, 1967

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Bucket trucks working. Let’s look back at the Tarrytown Mall fire in Rocky Mount on August 12, 1967.

Was the first enclosed mall in eastern North Carolina, the third enclosed mall in the state, and the 26th enclosed mall in the United States. (The first was Southdale in Edina, MN, a suburb of Minneapolis, and where Yours Truly spent many a Saturday free-ranging while his mom worked a few blocks away.)

Tarrytown Mall opened in 1963 and with four stores: Big Star, Roses, Kerr Drugs, and Montgomery Ward. By the next year, it had nine stores. In 1965, six more were added. And, by August 1967, it had were 20 stores.

Continue reading ‘Tarrytown Mall Fire – August 12, 1967’ »

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Eden Fire History – Plus Leaksville, Spray, and Draper

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This is a blog version of a Facebook posting from March 27, 2021. 

Who wants some Eden and Tri-Cities fire history? Found these pics, maps excerpts, and news articles from various sources. Three departments merged in 1967 to create Eden FD:

Leaksville FD

  • Jan 1915 – No fire department. [Sanborn] 
  • Dec 1921 – Two volunteer companies of ten men each, two Ford chemical wagons, one hand hose reel, serving Leaksville and Spray. [Sanborn]
  • 1923 – Fire department re-organized, year cited in the Twin-City Sentinel on August 11, 1939.
  • Feb 1925 – “New fire department” and two story fire station and municipal building pictured in Greensboro Daily News, Feb 8, 1925. Described in Greensboro Record on Feb 27, 1927, as newly organized, with 20 volunteers, one paid member, an American LaFrance Type 75 pumper recently purchased, and a new fire station. 
  • 1930 – One American LaFrance pumper, 750/40 chemical, one hose reel, volunteers plus one paid man at station, alarm by telephone and electric siren at city hall, fire station on North Henry Street at City Hall. [Sanborn]
  • 1930 – Fire department underwent complete reorganization during the year, reported Reidsville Review on December 31, 1930. Each member was assigned specific duties and the department structure was fire chief, assistant chief, captain of hose/chemical section and men, and captain of ladder section and men.
  • 1941 – Same data. [Sanborn]  
  • Apr 1955 – New electric siren installed atop the armory next door to fire station. [Greensboro Record, 4/23/55] 

Draper FD

  • 1943 – Created. First fire truck, 1919 Model T Ford/American LaFrance chemical wagon, donated by Fieldcrest Mills
  • 1948 – New fire truck ordered from Roanoke, VA. [News-Record, 10/23/48]
  • 1948 – Incorporated.  
  • Jul 1949 – New fire truck delivered, built in Roanoke, VA, Chevy chassis and equipped with 600 gallon tank. [News-Record, 7/15/49] The new truck was kept at the mill until 1952. [Greensboro Daily News, 12/4/80]

Spray FD

  • Had one of two 1919 Ford Model T/American LaFrance chemical wagons bought by Marshall Field and Co. (see above). One of only 13 made that year.
  • No fire department in 1930. [Sanborn]
  • No FD in 1941. [Sanborn] 
  • Sep 1950 – Fire department organized two weeks ago, reported Winston-Salem Journal on Oct 8, 1950. 
  • Oct 1950 – New fire truck exhibited for first time during Fire Prevention Week. [Winston-Salem Journal, 10/8/50] Purchased by the Spray Civic Association. [News-Record, 2/10/02]
  • Jun 1951 – Snapshot. SFD has 47 members, temporary station, alarm siren at station. Fire Chief is Woodrow Vestal. 
  • 1952 – Town of Spray incorporated. Town took over operation of fire department. [News-Record, 2/10/02]

However, each had a rural fire department that either continued operating independently or were re-organized later:

Leaksville Rural FD

  • Former Leaksville FD
  • Renamed Leaksville Rural FD in 1967, after Eden FD created. 
  • Housed at Eden Station 1 in 1984. [News-Record, 6/14/81]
  • Still operating in 2002. [News-Record, 4/20/02]

Draper Rural FD

  • Still operating in 2002. [News-Record, 4/20/02]

Spray Rural FD

  • Created circa 1984.
  • Still operating in 2002. [News-Record, 4/20/02]
  • Ended after 2005.

View the Research

See this Google Drive folder. 

Sources

Andrew Messer photos via WNC Fire Pics, https://www.wncfirepics.com/NorthCarolina/RockinghamCounty/Eden

Fieldcrest Mill Whistle newspaper via Digital NC Newspapers,  https://www.digitalnc.org/newspapers/the-fieldcrest-mill-whistle-spray-n-c

Lee Wilson photos, https://www.flickr.com/photos/leewilson/

Michael Patterson historic photos of the Tri-Cities, http://www.leaksville.com/MichaelPatterson.html

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps via NC Maps, https://web.lib.unc.edu/nc-maps/sanborn.php, and via https://www.nclive.org/

Various newspaper articles.

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Two Alarms on English Oaks Drive

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Listen to radio traffic.

Two alarms were struck on English Oaks Drive on Tuesday night, March 11, 2025. Dispatched 10:40 p.m. for 6560 English Oaks Drive. Four-unit, two-story townhouse building with 5,600-ish square-feet. Built 1984, from tax records.

First alarm with E4 E16 E15 E18 L4 L16 B5 B4 R16 ISO14. Address corrected to 6535 by dispatch. Upgraded to working fire while units were en route, due to multiple callers, which added DC1 A28 B3 INV1.

Engine 4 first-arriving and reporting two buildings involved. They brought their own supply line. Second alarm immediately requested by company officer. Heavy fire in the front of the 6533 unit, also heavy fire found in the attic.

Plus fire on the left side (bravo) exposure, in a second building, the end unit of a six-unit complex. Address 6529. Fire also extended to the right side (delta) exposure, to the adjoining 6535 unit.  

Second alarm added E17 E19 E23 L23 L6 Rehab 12. Staging for incoming units on Bent Creek Road.

After exterior attack, crews took their line(s) inside. Also some later transitional work. Ladder 4 also raised and readied, though no aerial stream was used. In the attic, one crew breached a fire wall between the 6535 and 6533 units to attack the fire.

Engine 18 established a secondary water supply. Medical monitor and rehab was established in the front of the structure (alpha). Decon was at Engine 4. 

Command held one engine and one ladder from the second alarm companies and released the others, about 20 minutes into the incident.

Controlled at 11:05 p.m. One firefighter with minor injury, to hand, transported for treatment. Four residents displaced.

Crews were on scene from several hours. Incident closed per PulsePoint at 5:12 a.m. 

Listen to radio traffic.

Run Card

First alarm: E4 E16 E15 E18 L4 L16 B5 B4 R16 ISO14
Working fire: DC1 A28 B3 INV1
Second alarm: E17 E19 E23 L23 L6 Rehab 12
Special call: E23 (again), E28 for fire watch.
Plus assistant chief on call (training)
Medical: M41 M43 M48 M60 EMS84 D3 D6. (Truck 1 was also dispatched, but cancelled.)

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