EMS Call Sign Changes

Belated posting. Adding here for the historical record. On September 20, 2024, Wake County EMS implemented changes to call signs as well as their staffing plan.

  • Nine new transport units were added, to help with coverage during high-demand periods during the day as well as assisting during shift change.
  • Three new shifts were created, to create staffing for the nine new transport units: eight-, ten-, and 14-hour shifts.
  • The calls signs for transport units were changed:
    • ALS ambulances – Medic 01 – Medic 99
    • BLS ambulances – EMS 01 – Medic 99
    • A unit will either be active as ALS (paramedic staffing) or BLS (EMT staffing). Both will never been in service with the same number at the same time.  
  • APP (Advanced Practice Paramedic) unit call signs were changed to the 900 series, e.g. Medic 901, Medic 902, etc. 

Facebook Comments

North Hills Shooting – January 17, 2025

Here are views and narrative notes from the Friday, January 17, 2025, shooting at North Hills. Sources are radio traffic (link below) and news reports.

Dispatched ~10:59 a.m. as active shooter at 4316 The Circle at North Hills Street. Initial dispatch for B4 B5 E16 E6 E9 ISO14 (fire) D3 D6 T1 M21 M44 M65 M78 M902 (EMS).

Incoming units staged both north and south of the location on Six Forks Road, including fire resources directed to Rowan Street for staging, beside nearby Fire Station 9.

No active shooter found. At 11:15 a.m., Raleigh Police issued public statements that there was no active shooter, and asked the public to stay away from the area.

Initial reports of up to three possible patients, and at different reported locations at a mixed-used shopping center/residential apartment complex, on two sides of Lassiter Mill Road at Six Forks Road.

Fire operations and unified command established at nearby Fire Station 9, a block away from the intersection. Police operations later established their command post at the Exxon service station, at the corner of Lassiter Mill at Six Forks.

EMS requested additional units, including four more ambulances. Special fire units to scene included chaplain, fire chief, operations chief, and Rehab 12.

Three shooting victims, one adult male deceased at scene, one adult male (alleged gunman) in critical condition with self-inflicted injury, and one adult male with non life-threatening conditions, per news reports.

From subsequent news reports, it sounds like police and possibly EMS and/or fire tactical rescue teams removed the first two victims from inside a restaurant, where the shooting occurred, and brought them outside and possibly all the way to the intersection of Six Forks and Dartmouth Roads, to a safer initial location for evaluation and treatment, in the event that there was still an active shooter on site.

Six Forks Road, Lassiter Mill Road, and the nearby I-440 ramp to Six Forks Road were closed for some hours, after the incident. At 2:45 p.m., Six Forks Road re-opened in front of the shopping center, per news reports.

Listen to radio traffic.

Screengrabs from WRAL video.

Run card included:

Fire
E9 E6 E16 B5 B4 ISO14
Division Chief 1
Rehab 12 (special called)
Chaplain
Operations Chief
Fire Chief

EMS
M65 M21 M78 M44 M11 M39 M30 M44 M15 M92
M902
D3 D6 D4 D1
EMS200

Facebook Comments

Two Alarms on The Lakes Drive

See more photos by Legeros

Two alarms were struck in north Raleigh on Tuesday, January 7, 2024. Battalion 5 was first-arriving at 6516 The Lakes Drive with fire showing through the roof of a three-story apartment building. She requested a second alarm on arrival. Ladder 15 and Engine 15 were next arriving. Engine 9 with water supply.

Fire found in attic/roof area, around HVAC equipment. Attacked using handlines both inside and roof-side. Quickly contained. Second alarm companies in staging soon released, except for one ladder.

Dispatched ~7:11 p.m. Controlled ~7:31 p.m. Some 20 residents were displaced from 12 apartments. Fire apparently started in a rooftop utility/mechanical space, reported the fire department.

Run Card

1st: E15 E4 E9 E16 L15 L4 R16 B5 B4 ISO14
WF: B1 DC1 INV1 A28
2nd: E19 E18 E22 L22 L6
EMS: M49 M53 M72 M909 D1 D5.
Add: Rehab 12 E17

 

Facebook Comments

Wake County Fire Commission Meeting – January 9, 2025

The Wake County Fire Commission meets on Thursday, January 9, 2024, 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

Two Alarms on Polly Street

Listen to radio traffic | See photos from the Raleigh Professional Fire Fighters Association, in this Facebook posting.

Two alarms were struck at 3800 Polly Street on December 30, 2024. Dispatched about 10:07 p.m. Two-story apartment building with four units and 3,996 squre-feet. Built 1995, from tax records. Operated by a non-profit as transitional housing for families experiencing homelessness, it was later reported. 

Engine 12 first-arriving. Second alarm struck within a couple minutes. Fire found on first floor and extending to attic.  Controlled at 10:54 p.m.  No injuries reported. 

Run card included:
1st: E12 E21 E11 L1 L6 Sq7 R16 B2 B5 ISO14
W/F: A10 B3 DC1 INV1
2nd: E3 E9 E27 L15
Added: L4


Raleigh Professional Fire Fighters Association photo


Raleigh Professional Fire Fighters Association photo

Facebook Comments

Run Numbers 2024

Run numbers for Raleigh for 2024. Here they are and now including incident type totals and a quick historical comparison.

Overall Summary

Total incidents – 58,166
Total per-unit runs – 83,697

Historical Comparison

  2024 2023 2022
Total Incidents 58,166 54,746 53,238
Total Per-Unit Runs 83,697 77,425 73,166

Here’s a PDF document with numbers from 1993 to 2022. It’s due for updating, 

Incident Types, Largest to Smallest Counts

35,501 – Rescue & EMS
8,173 – Good Intent Call
6,872 – False Alarm & False Call
4,197 – Service Call
1,844 – Hazards-No Fire
1,288 – Fire
237 – Special Incidents
37 – Overpressure-No Fire
17 – Severe Weather
0 – Other

Runs Per Unit

E01 – 2515
E02 – 2962
E03 – 3212
E04 – 1700
E05 – 1696
E06 – 1548
Sq07 – 3002
E08 – 2298
E09 – 2262
E10 – 2299
E11 – 3118
E12 – 3126
E13 – 2502
Sq14 – 2226
E15 – 3239
E16 – 2587
E17 – 1708
E18 – 1565
E19 – 3291
E20 – 2041
E21 – 2483
E22 – 2179
E23 – 1304
E24 – 1636
E25 – 1197
E26 – 1690
E27 – 1093
E28 – 1205
E29 – 513
 
L01 – 2413
L04 – 1214
L06 – 1655
L12 – 2162
L14 – 1428
L15 – 2178
L20 – 1030
L22 – 1346
L23 – 1197
 
R16 – 1361
 
B1 – 444
B2 – 682
B3 – 756
B4 – 458
B5 – 1031
 
DC1 – 139
 
Air 10 – 78
Air 28 – 78
 
Chief Investigator – 44
Investigator 1 – 194
 
ISO14 – 1050
Safety Chief – 3
 
Mini 07 – 40
Mini 14 – 42
Mini 28 – 4
 
HM02 – 67
HM08 – 82
HM22 – 19
HM27 – 80
HM29 – 65
HM Program Manager – 18
 
ATV 14 – 29
ATV 22 – 7
High Water 17 – 18
USAR 801 – 41
Rehab 12 – 17
Chaplain – 27

Top Engines
E 19 – 3291
E 15 – 3239
E 03 – 3212
E 12 – 3126
E 11 – 3118

Top Ladders
L01 – 2413
L15 – 2178
L12 – 2162

Top Battalion Chiefs
B5 – 1031
B3 – 756
B2 – 682

Facebook Comments

Raleigh Fire Department Fleet Updates – December 2024

This is a version of a Facebook posting on December 13, 2024. 

What’s up with Raleigh Fire Department fleet updates, you ask? Here’s an infographic that tells that story.

They’re in the thick of a long-overdue upgrade of their pumpers, both frontline and reserve. Plus a new air truck and new ladders next year and the year after.

About the graphic? Built using Illustrator, with drawings via the Atlantic Emergency Solutions page on Facebook. Thank you, search feature. 

View infographic as JPG | PDF

Facebook Comments

New Sandy Plains Public Safety Station

At last week’s Wake County Fire Commission, county staff provided information on the long-planned “northern hook” station for far northern Wake County. The site has been selected, a concept design has been created, and a project timeline has been established. Here are the details:

  • Name – Sandy Plains Public Safety Station
  • Agencies Using – Northern Wake Fire, Wake County EMS, plus working space for Wake County Sheriff’s Office
  • Location – Boyce Bridge Road and Highway 50
  • Conceptual Specs – One-story. Three bays, double deep.
  • Limitations – Falls Lake watershed, so limited amount of impervious surface, e.g. apron, parking lot, etc.

Background

For decades, the property owners in that area of Wake County have been underserved due to long travel times from the nearest fire station(s). They have also received the lowest fire protection rating due to the distance from a fire station, and thus have incurred higher fire insurance rates than the rest of the county.

The new Northwest District will comprise 10.65 square-miles and protect $87M of real property (buildings). The new station will greatly improve the ability of delivering an effective firefighting force within the standards established by the county and based on NFPA-recognized standards.

It also encompasses Falls Lake and those recreation areas. They see over 500,000 visitors annually, including the boat ramps. Since 2019, Northern Wake Fire has responded to over 55 incidents involving drownings, water rescues, and boat-related emergencies. The new station will improve response times for these incident types as well.

Timeframe

  • Design development – May 31, 2025
  • Construction drawings – June 15, 2025
  • Bidding & contracting – July 31, 2025
  • Construction notice to proceed – September 15, 2025
  • Construction substantial completion – October 15, 2026

Map and Drawing


New fire district shown in purple. Current Northern Wake Fire response area shown in yellow.

Facebook Comments

Relocating Fire Station 3 – Design + Public Art Unveiled

This is an ongoing blog posting about the project to relocate Raleigh Fire Station 3.

Contents 

  • Nov 2024 – Design + Public Art Unveiled
  • Nov 2024 – Community Meeting Scheduled
  • Oct 2024 – Site Clearing Started
  • Aug 2024 – Construction Bid Awarded
  • May 2024 – Construction Bids Solicited
  • Mar 2022 – Call for Artists
  • Mar 2022 – Official Project Site
  • May 2021 – Design Contract Awarded
  • Nov 2017 – Property Purchased
  • Earlier Project History
  • Legacy Station 3

November 2024 – Design + Public Art Unveiled

At a community meeting on November 14, 2024, the building designs and the public art designs were unveiled in a community meeting.

During a two-hour community meeting on Thursday, November 14, information about the project was presented by Fire Chief Herbert Griffin, Asst. Chief Danny Poole, Division Chief Scott White, and Eric Sowers of Huffman Architects.

The guest speaker was fire department historian Mike Legeros, who presented a short history of Station 3 and its connection to the department’s volunteer era and the Victor Company, that first occupied the later original location of Station 3.

Notable features of new Station 3 include electric charging capabilities for both passenger vehicles and fire apparatus. The station will house the city’s first electric fire engine. It was also designed with the capacity to add a third apparatus bay, if expansion is required.

Also of note is an outdoor public art installation created by Maxwell Emcays. It features a lighted a “history walk” of the fire department milestones going back to the first volunteer fire companies.

The new station is planned for completion in December 2025. Planning for the project started in (or before) 2014. The site was acquired in 2018.

Watch the video: Granicus | YouTube.

View the history slides (PDF) 

Continue reading ‘Relocating Fire Station 3 – Design + Public Art Unveiled’ »

Facebook Comments

Broughton Hospital Fire Brigade

Remembering the Broughton Hospital Fire Brigade in Morganton. The hospital opened in 1883 as the Western North Carolina Insane Asylum. It state’s second psychiatric hospital, after one was established in Raleigh. The new hospital was built on a 283-acre site, just south of downtown Morganton. In 1885 and 1886, two new wings were added, expanding the hospital’s bed space to over 500 patients. In 1890, the hospital’s name was changed to the State Hospital at Morganton. The name was changed to Broughton Hospital in 1959. The campus was added to the National Register of Historic Properties in 1987. Source: Wikipedia.  

Early Decades

The hospital fire brigade began operating in 1890. Source: North Carolina ECHO. 

The News-Herald on June 6, 1907 reported that planned Fourth of July events included a tournament by the “Morganton and State Hospital fire companies, with hose and ladder contests.” Reported the newspaper on July 4, both fire companies participated in the Fourth of July parade. 

By June 1900, the hospital had a two-story brick fire station located about 75 behind the male wards section. The hospital had its own water system including a duplex fire pump. Fire equipment included 2,000 feet of 1 1/2-inch hose, 1,000 feet of which was on hand reels, and a hook and ladder truck. The fire company was comprised of employees who conducted a fire drill every month. The same information applied in 1910 and 1915. Source: Sanborn Maps. 

By September 1924, the fire equipment consisted of two hand hose carts, one hook and ladder truck, and one American LaFrance “auto combination hose truck and pump, 750 GPM.” The fire station location had not changed. Source: Sanborn Maps.


Courtesy Broughton Hospital Public Safety


Courtesy Broughton Hospital Public Safety

Later Decades

By August 1931, the earlier fire station building behind the men’s ward was being used for storage. The fire station location was TBD. The same fire equipment was described as above. Source: Sanborn Maps.  

Sanborn Maps from 1950 listed an American LaFrance pumper, 750 GPM, 40 gallon chemical tank, 1,500 feet 2 1/2-inch hose, 200-feet 3/4-inch hose. 

The last fire station location was a one-story, two-bay addition to the presently-named Moran Building. Date TBD for construction of the fire station. 

The fire brigade disbanded in the 1970s, when the city took over fire protection. Source: Oral history. 

 
November 2006 – Mike Legeros photos

North Carolina ECHO photos. Artifacts displayed in the Avery Building, June 2006, https://digital.ncdcr.gov/Documents/Detail/broughton-hospital-patient-library/59490

Fire Apparatus

John Peckham’s American LaFrance database lists an American LaFrance Type 75 triple combination delivered to the state hospital in “Morgantown.” Shipped August 28, 1924. Order #445, serial #4791, truck ID #11479, negative #5788. Sold to Jackie Lee[1] in North Carolina in 1993. 

[1] Lee was a member of the Fayetteville Fire Department and a lifelong antique fire apparatus collector and mechanic. 

The last piece of fire equipment was a 1970 American LaFrance 900 Series pumper, 1000/500, reg #12.1.1941. Source: WNC Fire Pics. From oral history accounts, it had a twin that served Morganton Public Safety. It was later disposed to the city, after the city took over fire protection for the hospital.  

Artifacts displayed in the Avery Building, June 2006. Photo by North Carolina ECHO, https://digital.ncdcr.gov/Documents/Detail/broughton-hospital-patient-library/59490


Andrew Messer photo. 

Fires at the Hospital

November 19, 1959 – Barn that was used for drying hay burned to the ground. Morganton firefighters also responded. They were called to the hospital at 9:20 p.m. and responded with two trucks. Seven members of the Burke County Rescue Squad also responded, but had difficulty reaching the scene because of some 75 cars that were following the two town trucks. Many bystanders arrived before some of the volunteer firemen and delayed them and rescue squad members. The frame-building and some 400 bushels of corn were destroyed. Source: Hickory Daily Record, November 20, 1959.

Sanborn Maps


Sanborn Map, 1910


Sanborn Map, 1924

Sources 

Facebook Comments