Kenansville Fire Department Starts Ambulance Service, 1955

“Believed to be the only ambulance as such owned by a volunteer fire department in North Carolina,” noted the Duplin Times on July 14, 1955. See article below Definitely one of the earliest. What other volunteer (only) departments were operating ambulances at that time? That’s the open question to readers, to accompany these neat pictures …

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Chapel Hill’s 1980 Mack… Was Almost a Seagrave

Mack CF pumpers were popular trucks in these parts. Chapel Hill had a 1980 model… that was almost a Seagrave. Here’s that story. After soliciting bids for a new pumping engine that year, the town awarded the contract to Seagrave for $112,832.35. The other bidders were Central Mack Sales in Raleigh, Howe Fire Apparatus, Jack Cocke …

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Chapel Hill Buys Ex-Airport Pumper, 1963

Wait, what? See these town minutes* from February 16, 1963. As it turns out, Chapel Hill’s 1962** American LaFrance pumper was a gently used model, that had been serving at the “Greenville airbase” for about three months, while the airport awaited delivery of a crash truck. Bought for $20,500, versus what would cost $26,000 new. As was customary …

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Four Shelby Firefighters Killed in Explosion, May 25, 1979

Update April 11, 2019 – Though initially suspected as caused by a natural gas explosion, it was later eliminated by investigators. Instead, they suspect a backdraft caused the explosion. See the detailed OSFM retrospective below. Updated this posting headline, changing “gas explosion” to “explosion” to reflect that important clarification.  This retrospective first appeared on FireNews.net …

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Zebulon Fire Department Facility and Fleet Study

In February 2018, the town of Zebulon received the results of a fire facilities and fleet study (pdf) conducted by Brooks Innovative Solutions, from Greensboro.  It examined the fire department’s current infrastructure, historic and projected call volume and service now, and property and population development past ‘n’ present. And both in the municipal and rural fire …

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Report on Recommended Budgets

The local city and county governments have been releasing their proposed budgets for FY19. Here are some highlights, from around the area… Raleigh – Web Site No added positions New aerial ladder New pumper Funding for long-term staffing study Funding for driver-operator course planning ($200,000) Station 1 project funding, continued ($15.6M) Absent is Station 3 or …

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After 47 Years of Service, Apex EMS is Ending

Last week, the town of Apex announced that their EMS service is ending on June 30. Wake County EMS will begin providing service to the town, and Apex EMS will be dissolved as a town department. See the announcement below. Apex Volunteer Rescue Squad was organized in 1971. Their first vehicle was a 1956 Pontiac Superior ambulance and …

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New Rosenbauer Deliveries for Wake County

Recent new deliveries from Rosenbauer for Wake County. Pics courtesy of C. W. Williams, via their Facebook page. New Tanker – Fuquay-Varina Wow! New custom-cab tanker for Fuquay-Varina Fire Department. First of a new tanker spec for Wake County. 2000 gallons, 500 GPM. Delivered but not in service yet. Wake Forest is/has also received one.   …

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