The next meeting of the Wake County Fire Commission is Thursday, November 17, at the Wake County EMS Training Facility, located in the basement of the Wake County Commons Building, 4011 Carya Drive in Raleigh. The meeting starts at 7:00 p.m. View the meeting documents. Here s the agenda: Meeting Called to Order: Chairman Lucius …
Continue reading ‘Wake County Fire Commission Meeting – November 17, 2016’ »
On July 28, 1965, the Steer Steak House at 1625 Louisburg Road burned. Or as the road was later named, North Boulevard, and even later named, Capital Boulevard. Fire was reported at 3:55 a.m. by a passing motorist. Crews battled the blaze in a heavy rainstorm. The one-story structure (plus basement) suffered extensive damage and …
Continue reading ‘The Steer Steak House, Johnny’s Motor Lodge, and the Capital Inn’ »
Bought this on eBay, an old brochure from the Fire House Museum of Old Salem, NC. That’s the original half of Winston-Salem, and where the state’s first fire engines are still displayed. Delivered in 1785, the two hand-pulled, hand-powered pumping engines were built one year after the town’s tavern burned. The metal parts were purchased …
Continue reading ‘Vintage Brochure – Fire House Museum of Old Salem’ »
Found for sale on eBay, a vintage photo scanned from a 35mm slide, of West Mecklenburg Fire Department’s old Tanker 3, which was a 1964 Ford F-700/Irvin’s Body Shop (!), 500/1000. Originally served Moore’s Chapel FD, which merged with Wilkinson Boulevard FD in 1984. The new entity was named West Mecklenburg FD. Click to enlarge: …
Continue reading ‘Vintage Photo of West Mecklenburg 1964 Ford Tanker… And Other Old Photos’ »
Found for sale on eBay, vintage magazine advertisement from 1944, of Stateville’s Dodge/Oren pumper. Speaking of SFD, they have a bit of history on their official web site. See that page. Interesting bit: they sold their last fire horse to Morehead City in 1917. Anyway, click to enlarge:
On Thursday, October 13, 2016, a Wake County engine company strike team was dispatched to Bladen County, to assist with flood relief efforts and emergency responses in the wake of Hurricane Matthew. Apex, Bay Leaf, Eastern Wake, Fairview, Knightdale, Stony Hill, and Wake Forest each sent a single engine plus members. Notes this News & …
Continue reading ‘Matthew Memories – Wake County Engine Company Strike Team’ »
On Tuesday night, October 13, 1964, a restaurant building at the fairgrounds was destroyed during a busy night at the North Carolina State Fair. Thousands were attending the fair, and watched with rapt attention as “portable” restaurant was consumed by flames. The $100,000 structure was a loss, and the blaze likely inspired the creation of …
Continue reading ‘Restaurant Burns During Busy Night at NC State Fair, October 1964’ »
How’s that for a dramatic headline? Dateline Durham on Monday about 4:15 p.m., where Capt. Andrew Johnson had been sitting on a bed at Fire Station 14 on Umstead Road. Thirty seconds later, a car crashed through the wall and struck the very spot where’d been sitting, reported the Herald-Sun. Herald-Sun photo The four-door sedan …
Continue reading ‘Car Strikes Durham Fire Station, Fire Captain Narrowly Escapes Injury or Worse’ »
Contents Part I – Hurricane Matthew Part II – Old Stage Road Part III – Rose Lane Part IV – Numbers Part V – Wake County Water Rescues Part VI – Sources Part I – Hurricane Matthew On Saturday, October 8, heavy rain and winds pelted Raleigh and Wake County as Hurricane Matthew passed along …
Continue reading ‘Matthew in Raleigh – Firefighters, Water Rescues, and Rescued Rescuers’ »
Let’s start a list of the swift-water rescue teams operating in North Carolina since Saturday and the arrival of Hurricane Matthew: Apex FDARR-MAC (Arrington FD, Mar-Mac FD)Asheville FD (as TF2)Cary FDCarolina Beach FD Chapel Hill FD (+ as TF8)Charlotte FD (as TF3 and NCHART)Clayton FDCumberland County SO (as TF?)Davie CountyFayetteville FD (as TF9)FEMA Task Force …
Continue reading ‘Water Rescue Teams Operating in North Carolina After Hurricane Matthew’ »