On October 20, 2019, starting at 7:25 p.m., fire and EMS units were dispatched to a reported plane crash at Umstead State Park, which borders Raleigh-Durham International Airport. The dispatched address was the intersection of Ebenezer Church Road and Graylyn Drive. The airport control tower reported loss of radar contact with a light plane, later …
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News from Apex. They’ve added a second, fully-staffed ladder company, effective April 6. On that date, Ladder 34 (at Station 4) and Ladder 35 (at Station 5) were both in service. This followed the graduation of a recruit academy, which added sixteen firefighters to the full-time ranks. The backstory on the second ladder company is …
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The Town of Fuquay-Varina recently received a new ladder truck. This 2019 Spartan/Smeal rear-mount, 1500/400/105-foot was delivered on February 27, 2020. Specs include: Four-section ladder and 105 feet of heavy-duty 100,000 psi steel and features a 750 pound working tip load without any restrictions in relation to elevation, extension or rotation, while flowing 1,500 GPM. …
Recording this older news as a blog post, for the historical record. Late last year, the town of Apex received a new ladder truck, a 2019 Spartan/Smeal, 2000/400/105-foot. It was delivered in September/October. Exact date TBD. New Ladder 35 was placed in service at Station 5 on January __, 2020. It was operated at Station …
For Friday enjoyment, here’s some vintage radio traffic of the Raleigh Fire Department operating at a three-alarm fire off Edwards Mill Road on July 21, 1990. It was recorded by veteran fire buff Jeff Harkey during a period of severe storm activity. The ninety minutes of radio traffic–both before and after the major incident–has been …
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The Raleigh Fire Department ended its horse-drawn era in November 1914. Reported the News and 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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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 a downstairs bay accessed by an alley. After years of searching–okay, occasional searching–Mr. …
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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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 …
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 …