Raleigh Retires the Last Fire Horses, November 1914

The Raleigh Fire Department ended its horse-drawn era in November 1914. Reported the News & Observer on November 14, 1914: “Faithful Fire Horses No Longer Needed” “Bill and Frank Will Never Again Carry Wagon to a Fire; Both Have Fine Records” “Bill and Frank, the two beautiful black horses of the old Rescue Company, have …

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Boone Gets a Tiller!

This is a blog version of a Facebook posting from June 10, 2019.  For years, many have heard that the Boone Fire Department in Western North Carolina once had a tiller. And it was parked in the rear of Station 1, in an downstairs bay accessed by an alley.  After years of searching–okay, occasional searching–Mr. …

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Fire Trucks Built by Alexander Welding of Raleigh

Alexander Welding and Manufacturing Company of Raleigh (1931-1980) built commercial truck bodies and notably tank trucks, including tractor-drawn tank trailers. They also built a number of fire apparatus. They also have a family connection to Atlas Steel Products (later Atlas Fire Apparatus) and Emergency Equipment Inc. (EEI), the latter operated by the son and grandson, …

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Two Alarms on St. Regis Circle

This posting compiles information posted earlier in several Facebook postings on Legeros Fire Line. See photos by Legeros | Listen to radio traffic Two alarms were struck at 6200 St. Regis Circle on Friday afternoon, April 4, 2020. Dispatched 2:42 p.m. Three-story, wood-frame, garden-style apartment building with 19,140 square-feet and 24 units, according to tax …

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Raleigh Retires Snorkel

End of an era. This week, the City of Raleigh Fire Department’s beloved Snorkel was retired. Effective April 1, 2020. The 1988 Pierce Arrow, with an 85-foot boom and no pump, had served as a reserve apparatus for over a decade. It was currently designated Ladder 210. Most recently and famous, it operated at one …

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When Iron Lungs Were Added

Long before COVID crashed out shores, our fire departments and rescue squads assisted with another national health crisis. During the polio outbreaks of the 1940s and 1950s, they added iron lungs to their emergency equipment. Here’s the Durham Fire Department receiving one, as photographed by Charles Cooper for the Durham Morning Herald and/or Sun on …

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Visual History of the (Early) New Bern Fire Department

Forgot to blog about this last year. Another Legeros history chart, this time about the New Bern Fire Department. Created in July 2019, following the release of Daniel Bartholf’s book, History of Firefighting in New Bern, North Carolina – Colonial Days to the 21st Century. See earlier posting.  One disclaimer, it’s a draft version. Will …

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The Grandstand Burned… But The Race Continued, 1959

This content was original posted on the Legeros Fire Line Facebook page. Go there for more content and much more frequent postings. March 26, 2020 Photo error!. The previously included photos of a burning grandstand were not from this incident, but an earlier speedway fire in Greensboro. The grandstand at their fairgrounds burned on May 1, …

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CANCELLED – Wake County Fire Commission Meeting – March 19, 2020

March 17 The special-called meeting on April 9 has also been cancelled.  March 12, 2020 Due to the very fluid and evolving COVID 19 situation, Wake County Fire Services has cancelled the scheduled March 19, 2020, meeting of the Wake County Fire Commission and all scheduled subcommittee meetings for the remainder of March. They will …

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Relocating Cary Station 9 – Ready to Open

See photos of project. March 12, 2020 Ready to Open Long-overdue update. Cary Station 9 is but days away from going into service. Paid a visit on Tuesday and snapped some pictures inside. Have also been taking pictures over the last eighteen months of construction, both ground and drone pictures. See those photos.  Station 9 …

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