Cary to Install Idle Reduction Technology on Apparatus

On Thursday, March 10, 2022, the Cary Town Council voted unanimously to spend $324,000 to outfit nine of the town’s fire trucks with idle reduction technology.  Here’s the complete text of the meeting agenda action item, from this Town of Cary web page. Town of Cary Purchase of Fire Truck Idle Reduction Technology Speaker: Danna …

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Two Alarms on Olde Station Drive

Two alarms were struck on Sunday night, March 13, 2022, at 8604 Olde Station Drive in Raleigh. Dispatched 7:13 p.m. Two-story, wood-frame, garden-style apartments, with 16 units and 9,680 square-feet. Built 1990. One person reported trapped in first-floor unit, and people reported jumping off balconies, as units were en route. Working fire dispatch and EMS …

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Two Alarms on New Bern Avenue

Two alarms were struck on Sunday, February 28, at a house fire at 528 New Bern Avenue. Dispatched 6:57 p.m. Two-story, single-family dwelling with 1,422 square-feet. Built 1925, with both attic and basement space. Subject reported inside structure, later found outside building, in rear. Engine 1 first arriving, did not catch a hydrant. Engine 13 …

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Huntersville Fire History

Would you believe a cab-mounted hose basket? Here’s the coolest vintage truck pic that we’ve seen in a while. Was a 1936 Chevy truck conversions in Huntersville, NC, in Mecklenburg County. Below is a timeline of the department’s history and a few more photos. They’re from Brent Irvin, son of former Fire Chief Larry Irvin, …

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Wilkinson Boulevard Fire Department – Early History

Wilkinson Boulevard was the first rural fire department in Mecklenburg County, and one of the first rural departments in North Carolina.  Souvenir Booklet, 1948 In 1948, the Wilkinson Boulevard Fire Department of Mecklenburg County published a small souvenir booklet. It contained a history of the department, which was the first rural fire department in the …

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Excelsior Fire Companies

How many black volunteer fire companies named Excelsior served in our state, back in the day? It appears just three. Shown are Durham (top), Greensboro (middle), and Rocky Mount (bottom). See below for details. Companies Durham Excelsior Hook and Ladder Company Housed at 201 Pine Street, now South Roxboro Street Served from mid-1880s to 1909 …

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Harper J. Elam and the Little Giant Fire Company

Guest post by Tom Link, retired Charlotte battalion chief and history buff For those of us who have loved the fire service, we have a special admiration for those firefighters who came before us, the men who built the organizations and established what would become hallowed traditions. For me, the appeal of the fire service …

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Baltimore Line of Duty Deaths

This is a blog version of a Facebook posting from January 24, 2022. Terrible news in Baltimore today, January 24, 2022. Three firefighters dead and fourth in critical condition after the partial collapse at a three-story row house, about 6:00 a.m. Killed were Lt. Paul Butrim, Firefighter/Paramedic Kelsey Sadler, and EMT/Firefighter Kenny Lacayo. Hospitalized and …

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