Raleigh Haz-Mat History

Research notes on the history of the Raleigh Fire Department hazardous materials response program.  Pre-History 1980, Nov 19 – New federal regulations took effect to ensure safe management of hazardous waste, including identifying/notifying authorities of all sites that contained such products. 1982, Sep 13 – Fire in Charlotte at a chemical company forced the evacuation …

Continue reading ‘Raleigh Haz-Mat History’ »

Wrightsville Beach Line of Duty Death – December 6, 1981

This is a version of a Facebook posting from December 6, 2021. On December 6, 1981, Wrightsville Beach volunteer Lt. Robert M. Wynn, 28, died in the line of duty at the Doak Apartments fire. Also severely injured was volunteer firefighter Jon Dennison, 21, who suffered second and third degree burns. At 1:13 a.m. on …

Continue reading ‘Wrightsville Beach Line of Duty Death – December 6, 1981’ »

Charlotte Fire Alarm System History

This posting is a consolidation and expansion of two Facebook postings and discussion threads from December 2025. See part 1 and part 2.  Random notes on the history of fire alarm “street boxes” in Charlotte. Reference Documents View list of box locations before 1975 (PDF) Timeline Before 1900 1887, Nov – First fire alarm system …

Continue reading ‘Charlotte Fire Alarm System History’ »

Two Alarms at the Raleigh Convention Center

See Legeros photos | Listen to radio traffic Two alarms were struck at the Raleigh Convention Center at 500 S. Salisbury Street on Monday night, December 1, 2025. Dispatched at ~9:29 p.m., the first-arriving units were from nearby Station 1 on South Dawson Street. Ladder 1 was first-arriving, reporting a working fire, and requesting a …

Continue reading ‘Two Alarms at the Raleigh Convention Center’ »

Two Alarms on Brooks Avenue – November 16, 2025

Two alarms were struck at a house fire in Raleigh on Sunday, November 16, 2025.  Dispatched ~2:50 p.m. for 1345 Brooks Avenue. One- and two-story, single-family dwelling with 4,116 square-feet. Built 1948. With gusty wind conditions that day, statewide. Engine 6 first-arriving with smoke showing. Upgraded to working fire. Interior attack to start, with crews …

Continue reading ‘Two Alarms on Brooks Avenue – November 16, 2025’ »

Relocating Fire Station 3 – November Update

This is an ongoing blog posting about the project to relocate Raleigh Fire Station 3. Contents  Nov 2025 – November Update Feb 2025 – Construction Update Nov 2024 – Design + Public Art Unveiled Nov 2024 – Community Meeting Scheduled Oct 2024 – Site Clearing Started Aug 2024 – Construction Bid Awarded May 2024 – …

Continue reading ‘Relocating Fire Station 3 – November Update’ »

Run Card for Louisville Cargo Jet Crash

This is a blog version of a Facebook posting from November 5, 2025.  Pleasure Park Ridge Fire District photos Here’s a run card created by reader Kameron Brown–plus annotations added by Legeros–for the major incident in Louisville, KY, on November 3, 2025, involving an cargo jet crash + commercial building(s) + petroleum recycling facility just …

Continue reading ‘Run Card for Louisville Cargo Jet Crash’ »

MEDIC Starts Service in Charlotte – November 1, 1978

This is a blog version of a Facebook posting from November 6, 2025.  Morning reading. How ’bout some EMS history from Mecklenburg County and Charlotte. Forty-seven years ago this week, MEDIC, the Mecklenburg EMS Agency, began operating as the county’s new ambulance service. They were placed in service at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, November 1, …

Continue reading ‘MEDIC Starts Service in Charlotte – November 1, 1978’ »

New Hope Station 2, Wendell Station 2, and No Man’s Land

Wake County history hit. For our Sunday reading, let’s take a deep dive into the story of New Hope Station 2 (now their main station) and Wendell Station 2. Turning the clock back at the fall of 1987, when county commissioners considered proposals to add fire protection to the so-called “no man’s land” in eastern …

Continue reading ‘New Hope Station 2, Wendell Station 2, and No Man’s Land’ »