More Vintage Wallops Flight Facility Fire Apparatus

By way of a this thread in the Facebook group Fire & Rescue Apparatus 25 Years And Older, from Aaron Moore and originally photographed by someone at WFFFD, here are vintage rigs NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility fire department. They’ve been added to my department profile and Antares rocket explosion recap, which originated as a blog …

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Raleigh Adds Third Tiller

The Raleigh Fire Department placed their third tiller in service today. Ladder 8 at Station 26 has received a 2010 Pierce Arrow XT tractor-drawn aerial ladder, 1500/300/100-foot.  Formerly Ladder 4 at Station 1, it has replaced a 2006 Pierce Arrow XT rear-mounted aerial ladder, 1500/300/105-foot.  This is the city’s third tiller, joining Ladder 4 (2017 Pierce) …

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Vintage USAF Crash Rescue Instructions For Local Responders

For your holiday weekend reading pleasure, a “crash rescue guide” for local responders, prepared by Field Training Detachment 205A at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. Undated and found in the archives of a local fire department. Contains information on (a.) telephone numbers for reporting crashes, (b.) types of information to provide when calling, (c.) instructions …

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Swift Water Rescue Teams Leave Raleigh For Texas

Two swift-water rescue teams left Raleigh yesterday, headed to Texas to assist with the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. They were part of a five-team deployment requested by Texas emergency officials.  Personnel and equipment from NC USAR Task Force 8 and Task Force 9 departed from the Raleigh Fire Department training center, following a 10:00 a.m. …

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Cherry Point’s New Rescue Pumper

Lee Wilson went to the beach last week, and shot this sweet Rosenbauer rescue pumper at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in Havelock. Was just delivered on August 24. It’s a 2017 Rosenbauer Commander, 1500/500 with 20 gallons Class A foam and 30 gallons Class B foam.  See more pics from Lee, in his album …

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Raleigh’s Old Steamer Gets Gong, Passes Boiler Inspection

Last month, Raleigh’s old steam fire engine received some work. A new gong was installed, and the boiler passed its annual state inspection. The 1905 American LaFrance Metropolitan steam engine was moved to Station 29, and “A” platoon personnel (shown below) assisted Steamer Committee members with its annual state-mandated boiler inspection. On July 29, a …

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The Yarborough Hotel Fire – July 3, 1928

From Research Central, here’s a new retrospective. Raleigh’s renowned Yarborough Hotel on Fayetteville Street. Was the social and political center of the city for decades. Burned on July 3, 1928. Brought hundreds to the scene, as well as engines from Durham and Smithfield.  Posted on the Raleigh Fire Museum web site, the account is pulled …

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Rural Fire Protection Origins – Guilford County

How did rural fire protection begin in North Carolina? That’s been a nagging question for a few years now. We posted this historical perspective from 1977, with excerpts from a state government document.  But how about some details? What were the developments among individual counties? We’ve asked inputs on our Facebook fire page, in this …

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Raleigh Fire Department Fleet Updates – Summer 2017

Lee Wilson photos Engines and Ladders and Tillers, Oh My Raleigh’s new Pierce tiller was placed in service this week, and following a pair of new Pierce pumpers last month. Here’s the scorecard of which rigs went where, and which stations are getting the bumped ones.  See more of Lee Wilson’s photos on his Flickr …

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Greensboro Fire Department’s First Rescue Truck, 1944

November 18 From our friends at GFD, here’s a color(ized) photo of the rescue truck, along with other apparatus and vehicles at (old) Central Fire Station on North Greene Street. Click once or twice to enlarge: August 15 In October 1944, the Greensboro Fire Department placed their first rescue truck in service. By my estimate, …

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