Civil Defense Directors of Raleigh and Wake County

How about a dip into Raleigh-Wake civil defense history? Reader Scott Womack acquired a Raleigh Civil Defense Director badge and asks, who would’ve worn this? Let’s try to answer the question via some News & Observer articles and other sources. Pre-History – During World War II there were numerous civilian defense initiatives both in Raleigh and …

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Drownings in Wake County – 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

This is a version of a Facebook posting from February 2021. It has been expanded with additional data. Last updated, June 10, 2024. Introduction This blog post presents research notes from newspaper stories about Wake County rescue squad responses to drownings in ponds, lakes, or creeks in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Drownings were a …

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Rolesville Fire Department Signs Unification Resolution with Town

On Tuesday, June 4, 2024, the leaders of the Town of Rolesville and the non-profit corporation Rolesville Rural Fire Department signed a unification resolution, to begin the formal process of merging the fire department with the town. During the past three years, both had been meeting collaboratively to discuss the benefits, concerns, challenges, and opportunities …

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Raleigh Fire Department History – Charts and Data

Updated on June 1, 2015, with chart about hose cars and pumping engines delivered. Updated on January 9, 2025, with updated recruit academy length chart. Updated on June 5, 2024, with added chart comparing historical data on operations expansion. Updated on April 21, 2024, with added chart showing recruit class length. Updated on February 24, …

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Remembering Bob Bartosz

This was originally posted on Facebook. June 5, 2024, update. Arrangements for have been posted. Farewell will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 8, in Nashville, with an emergency services escort to begin the journey back to New Jersey. Burial services with fire department honors will be held at Monday in Cinnaminson, NJ. …

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Oldest Rescue Squads in North Carolina + Master List

Posting updated May 30, 2024, with banner graphic added. Database is also periodically updated with corrections.  Research notes on the oldest rescue squads in North Carolina. Originally compiled in September 2022 in this Facebook posting. Source data in this Google spreadsheet copied from Excel master file. Name County Status Start Stop Winston-Salem Rescue Squad, Inc. …

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Defiance Fire Company No. 2 of Statesville

In February, the City of Statesville posted a retrospective with new-old photos and information about Defiance Fire Company No. 2. They were an all-black volunteer fire company that was organized around 1894, and one of many in the state that formed in the mid- and late-19th century.[1] [1] In 1905, black fire companies were serving …

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Raleigh’s New Rehab 12

The Raleigh Fire Department recently placed a new special unit in service. Rehab 12 is a 2023 Ford/Morgan Olson step van, with upfit by a local vendor. Features include interior food serving areas, exterior serving window, exterior handwashing station, retractable awnings, and rear bathroom. It’s housed at Station 12 and cross-staffed by crews on Engine …

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Two Alarms at Sir Walter Apartments

Screengrabs form ABC11 footage.   Two alarms were struck in downtown Raleigh on Monday morning, April 29, 2024. Dispatched ~1:40 a.m. for 400 Fayetteville Street. Sir Walter Apartments, senior living facility, ten-story high-rise. Built 1923[1].   Engine 13 first-arriving with nothing showing. Smoke found on seventh floor. Heavy smoke, zero visibility found in fire apartment. Quickly controlled, …

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