Two Alarms on Walden Pond Drive

Mike Legeros photo

See more photos by Legeros | Listen to radio traffic

Two alarms were struck in north Raleigh on Wednesday night, October 30, 2024. Dispatched 10:56 p.m. for 4750 Walden Pond Drive. Three-story multi-unit residential building with [goes here] square-feet, in complex off Millbrook Road. Built 1974, from tax records.

Upgraded to working fire while units were en route. Engine 15 first arriving with fire on all three floors. Two units were well-involved and soon with extension into the attic space over three units. Second alarm was requested. Staging on Millbrook Road at Walenda Drive.

Battalion 5 in command in the front of the building, later Division Chief 1.

Second-due Engine 19 with supply line to Engine 15. Engine 9 boosting to Engine 15. Second hydrant later connected to Engine 11 [for supplying Ladder 4?]. [ Others? ]

Crews withdrawn for aerial operations from second-due Ladder 4, positioned in the front of the building. Crews resumed interior work, after aerial operations. 

Controlled at 11:50 p.m. Crews stayed on scene for several hours.

From news reports, six units damaged, no injuries. [goes here] residents were displaced. 

Also, the same complex as 4707 Walden Pond Drive, location of a two-alarm fire in same complex on February 4, 2023.

Run Card

  • First Alarm – E19 E15 E11 E99 L15 L4 B5 B1 R16 ISO14
  • Working Fire – DC1 A28 INV1
  • Second Alarm – E27 E16 E21 L22 L6
  • Added – Safety Chief, Logistic Chief, Rehab 12, E20
  • Medical – M12 M48 EMS51 D4

Mike Legeros photos

 

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Wake County Fire Stations Infographic

With a number of new fire stations recently opened in Wake County in the last year–Apex, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, two in Knightdale, and Morrisville–let’s look at all engine house across the county. Here’s new infographic with their pictures.

Photo credits: Google Street and Legeros. 

View as JPG (3.9M) | PDF (4.3M)

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1956 Pontiac Superior Ambulance

See more photos by Legeros

Let’s take a closer look at Gene Lambert’s 1956 Pontiac Superior ambulance that recently appeared at two local events: the Garner Fireman’s Day parade in October and the Raleigh Fire Museum antique apparatus muster in September.

It was originally owned by Apex Funeral Directors, today named Apex Funeral Home. They were formed in 1892 and, fun fact, had Ralph Butts as one of their directors for decades. He was also the Raleigh Fire Chief from 1941 to 1947. (His father was M. E. Butts, funeral director there for 43 years. He died in 1949.) Below is history of the vehicle after it was donated by Bob McIver to the Apex rescue squad. 

Owned by Apex Rescue Squad

Apex Rescue Squad was created in the fall of 1971. They were incorporated on September 8, 1971. It was founded by thirteen members of the Apex Jaycees. They were located behind the old town hall on Salem Street. 

The squad started service in October 1971 using the donated ambulance. It had no beacon at the time, but the squad chief quickly added one to the roof.

The squad’s first call was a 14-month old with a febrile seizure, taken to the satellite hospital in Apex, and then the squad transferred him to a Raleigh hospital.

Nicky Winstead, who became the squad’s second chief after about three years, ran the squad’s second call on the ambulance, a motor-vehicle collision with multiple people injured on Highway 55 at Carpenter-Morrisville Road. 

The squad used the ambulance for a couple years. It was supplement in the summer of 1972 by a  van-conversion ambulance donated by Bill Gerringer of Gerringer Chevrolet Company, and with a $6,150 ambulance installation by Tulsa Emergency and Safety Equipment in Oklahoma.

The 1972 ambulance was later disposed to Six Forks Rescue Squad, when they organized in 1976, and was their first ambulance. By 1976, the Apex Rescue Squad had also acquired a 1973 Chevy/Superior ambulance.

Owned by Willie Yates

When the 1956 Pontiac was removed from service at Apex Rescue Squad in the early 1970s, it was purchased by Willie Yates, the squad’s board president. He owned Holt & Sons Garage on Highway 55 at Salem Street. The vehicle stayed parked at the garage for a period of time until he moved it to private property for safekeeping.

In 1994, Lambert, who was a Wake County sheriff’s deputy, was on a call. As he left the call, his patrol car’s headlines illuminated a vehicle parked in a grove of trees. He drove to the trees and discovered the old ambulance.

Lambert went to Winstead, who was again chief of the squad, and inquired about the vehicle and its history. Winstead told him about its history and its current owner. Lambert later learned that the owner had moved to Raleigh. He met Yates and told him of his desire to buy the car and preserve its history.

“As best I remember, it took almost two years to convince him to sell it to me.”

Owned by Gene Lambert

Lambert had the car towed to Garner Rescue Squad, where he had long-served including as former chief of the squad. It was parked there for a while, while he made arrangements for storage.

Beginning in 2016, Lambert started a serious restoration of the vehicle and using the talents of several “restoration groups.” Over seven years, it was restored to its original condition and with very few exceptions.

It was ready for display in August 2023, where that same week it was taken on a trailer to Morgantown, PA, for the Professional Car Society’s Car Show. It won First Place.

The following summer, it was taken on a trailer to the PCS car show in June 2024. It won First Place and Most Outstanding Pontic.

Lambert welcomes invitations and inquiries about the ambulance. It’s available for open houses, vehicle shows, or any other excuse to share its incredible history with the community.

 

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Relocating Fire Station 3 – Site Clearing Started

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

Contents 

  • 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

October 2024 – Site Clearing Started

Site clearing had started by October 8, 2024. 

August 2024 – Construction Bid Awarded Continue reading ‘Relocating Fire Station 3 – Site Clearing Started’ »

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Charlotte South Park Fire After-Action Report

The Charlotte Fire Department has released an after-action report on the Liberty Row Fire (AKA South Park Fire) on May 18, 2023. The five-alarm commercial structure fire was one of the city’s largest in recent history. 

Read the 96-page document (PDF) 

Listen to radio traffic from the fire (YouTube) 

Five alarms in Charlotte on May 18, 2023 (blog post)

Comparing Charlotte’s SouthPark and Raleigh’s Metropolitan Fires (blog post)

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Database of Emergency Equipment Inc. (EEI) Fire Apparatus

Here’s one we’ve been waiting for. Presenting a delivery list of over 330 rigs built by Emergency Equipment Incorporated (EEI) of Raleigh

This list was compiled over many, many years by Jon Umdenstock of Durham. And he welcomes inputs and corrections, just send him an email.

View the database.

Learn more about EEI and its predecessors Atlas and Alexander. 

See photos and discussions on these trucks in this Facebook group.

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Polly Watson Merging with Nahunta Fire Department

News from Wayne County. Effective September 1, 2024, Polly Watson Fire Department merged into Nahunta Fire Department. There are now two NFD stations, the main station (Nahunta) on Nahunta Road and a satellite station (Polly Waston) on Highway 581. The departments share 114 years of combined history, organized in 1958 and 1976 respectively.

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Three Alarms on Silver View Lane


Durham Highway Fire Department photo

Listen to radio traffic | See photos by Legeros | See aerial video of aftermath

Three alarms were struck on Friday afternoon, August 30, 2024, at 7604 Silver View Lane, just off Pinecrest Road, after lightning struck a home and started a fire that spread to the homes on either side of the residence. It occurred during a period of severe weather than saw numerous other weather-related calls, including other working fires.[1]

Ladder 23 (on reserve) was first-arriving at the two-story, single-family dwelling with 2,955 square-feet. Built 2003, from tax records. Heavy fire showing on arrival. Second, then third alarms were struck, as a second and third home caught on fire.

Durham Highway Engine 2 was early-arriving (second due?) and used their deck gun for exterior attack on the first fire building. Crews also took lines inside, until all companies were withdrawn for aerial operations.


Courtesy of Stephanie Bartsch, from this community fundraiser for the impacted families

Ladder 23 and Ladder 4 operated from Silver View Lane. Ladder 15 and Ladder 6 operated on Pinecrest Road. Four+ hydrants were caught on both roads, to supply the pumpers and ladders. 

Access for hand lines from Pinecrest Road to the rear of the houses was restricted by a block-long iron fence and drop off. One section was later sawed and a ground ladder was laid.  

Dispatched about 2:15 p.m. Controlled 3:54 p.m. With extended overhaul as crews located and extinguished hot spots. No injuries were reported. Six people were displaced. 

[1] During a three-hour period that afternoon, during the severe weather, the Raleigh Fire Department responded to:

  • six structure fire calls
  • four working fires caused by lightning, including this fire
  • six water rescue calls for vehicles in flood waters
  • two haz-mat calls
  • several medical calls and motor-vehicle collisions
  • several requests for service due to downed trees and downed powerlines.

Source: https://x.com/RaleighNCFire/status/1829909902875333112


Legeros photos

Radio Traffic

Run Card

Units on scene included the following, with approximate dispatch times:
 
02:15 p.m. – E16, E6, E5, L23, L4, Sq7, R16, B4, B1, ISO14 (First alarm)
02:16 p.m. – DHFD E2 added
02:17 p.m. – Sq14 added
02:?? p.m. – DHFD E1 added
02:?? p.m. – DC1, INV1, A28 (Working Fire)
02:20 p.m. – E18, E1, L6, L15, Sq7, Rehab12 (Second Alarm)
02:27 p.m. – E17 added
02:28 p.m. – E15, E19, L12, L14, B2(?) (Third Alarm)
02:29 p.m. – E24 added
02:32 p.m. – Evacuation tones

Also on scene:

DHFD Car 1
RFD PIO
RFD Chaplain
RFD Logistics Chief
EMS44
EMS51
Medic 94
District 5

Aftermath


Legeros photo

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Relocating Fire Station 1 – Design Services Awarded

This is an ongoing blog posting about relocating Raleigh Fire Station 1. See also the  official project site

Contents

  • Aug 2024 – Design Services Awarded
  • Feb 2024 – Site Selected, Project Restarted
  • May 2020 – Project on Hold
  • Nov 2019 – Conceptual Rendering
  • July 2018 – Project Update
  • Aug 2017 – Project Update
  • May 2016 – Funding for Station Relocation
  • Aug 2015 – Station Relocation Objective

August 2024 – Design Services Award

On August 20, 2024, City Council approved a consent agenda that included the formal bid award for design services for new Station 1. 

View agenda item that includes one PDF attachment.

February 2024 – Site Selected, Project Restarted

On February 29, 2024, an RFQ was issued for design services. By that time, the project had also been restarted, with the scope of work expanded to include a back-up emergency communications center in the new facility. The project budget had also been increased to $72M. The site location was also changed, and was originally planned for a city-owned parcel near the Raleigh Convention Center. 

The multi-story facility is planned to include 50,000 square-feet and five apparatus bays. The site is a city-owned, two-acre parent on the northwest corner of South Salisbury Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway. The site is also catty corner from old Fire Station 2, which was located in the rear of the performing arts center originally named Memorial Auditorium.  

Fire Station 1 is currently located at 220 S. Dawson Street and opened in 1953. It has two stories, three bays, and 11,200 square-feet. Its two prior locations were 412 S. Salisbury Street at Old Station 2 (1941-53) (built 1914) and the original Headquarters Fire Station at 112 Morgan Street (1912-41). The latter was erected in 1896, for the city’s volunteer fire companies. It opened as Station 1 in 1912, with the creation of the current career organization. 

Headquarters is currently located in the Dillon Building at 310 W. Martin Street. It comprises the Office of the Fire Chief, Office of the Fire Marshal, Office of Safety and Compliance, administrative staff of the Operations Division, and other staff.

The Martin Street space was occupied in 1994. Prior locations for fire administrative offices have included:

  • Municipal Building at 222 W. Hargett Street (1984-91)
  • Professional Building at 127 W. Hargett Street (1991-94)
  • Keeter Training Center (1982-20__)
  • Old Station 4 at 2913 Wake Forest Road (1993-97?)
  • Fire Station 1 at 220 S. Dawson Street (1953-20_)

The fire department also utilizes office space at the Emergency Communications Center at 2320 Westinghouse Boulevard, for the Emergency Management Division and other staff. 

May 2020 – Project on Hold

Around May 30, 2020, the official project site was updated and noted that the project was on hold indefinitely.  

November 2019 – Conceptual Rendering Continue reading ‘Relocating Fire Station 1 – Design Services Awarded’ »

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New Rocky Mount Station 2

This is a blog version of a Facebook posting from August 20, 2024.

Groundbreaking for new Rocky Mount Fire Station 2 was held on Monday, August 26, 2024. It will replace a 1977 engine house that is located on the same site, at the corner of West Raleigh Boulevard and South Grace Street.

The new station will cost $11M+ and face West Raleigh Boulevard, not Grace Street. Program specifications include:

  • Eight Bedrooms with built-in desk
  • Storage Room
  • Common Area Restroom (entrance from engine room) with separate shower for decon
  • Community Bathrooms w/Showers (1 dedicated to female employees)
  • Kitchen / Dayroom
  • Gym / Workshop
  • Community Room/Classroom
  • Gear Wash and Decontamination Room for Dryer & Extractor with exterior entrance
  • Gear Storage Room
  • Laundry
  • A method (pole, slide, or steps) to quickly access the engine room from the upstairs mezzanine
  • Pantry with cabinets for 3 shifts and room to store 3 shift refrigerators
  • Three engine bays total, including two full drive through, double-stacked bays, and one half bay parallel to the Grace Street side with the front facing West Raleigh Blvd. The half-bay will have the gym and workshop located directly behind it.
  • Captain/STO Office. 

Continue reading ‘New Rocky Mount Station 2’ »

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