New Sandy Plains Public Safety Station

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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.

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Relocating Fire Station 3 – Design + Public Art Unveiled

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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’ »

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Broughton Hospital Fire Brigade

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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 

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Wake County Fire Commission Meeting – November 14, 2024

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The Wake County Fire Commission meets on Thursday, November 14, 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.

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Two Alarms on Walden Pond Drive

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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

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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

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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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Charlotte South Park Fire After-Action Report

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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

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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

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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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