On July 1, 2017, a new fire department begins operating in northern Wake County, a consolidation of Bay Leaf Volunteer Fire Department, Incorporated, and Stony Hill Rural Fire Department, Inc. Northern Wake Fire Department will operate five fire stations, with 28 pieces of equipment, and 140 members. They’ll cover a 70-mile area that’s north of …
Continue reading ‘Northern Wake Fire Department Family Tree’ »
On Sunday morning, Yours Truly spent a couple hours crossing from east Carrboro into West Chapel Hill, and following the train tracks that end at the power plant. That’s right, a coal train delivers their fuel, by way of a 10-mile spur from the Norfolk-Southern line that crosses through Orange County. But here’s another fun …
Continue reading ‘Looking For Train Tracks on the UNC-Chapel Hill Campus’ »
June 7 Last night, the Apex Community Auxiliary made a presentation to the town board, with retired, longtime Chief Nicky Winstead recounting the story of the squad and the supportive auxiliary. They then introduced each of eight charity and non-profit organizations, and invited them to make remarks, before presenting them with checks and certificates. See …
Continue reading ‘After 45 Years, Apex Community Auxiliary is Disbanding’ »
On Friday, the Raleigh Fire Department announced that the “fire of a century” at the Metropolitan Apartments has been ruled as “undetermined” for cause. Here’s the full statement: On March 16, 2017, at approximately 10:03 p.m., the Raleigh Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at The Metropolitan apartment complex (Metropolitan), 314 West Jones …
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The Raleigh Fire Department has received two new engines: a pair of 2017 Pierce Enforcer pumpers, 1500/500. Job numbers 30631-01 and 30631-02. They’re the first new engines in two years, following Engine 29, a Pierce Arrow XT delivered in 2015. Changes with these two engines include rolling compartment doors now unpainted, and ground ladders returned to a …
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Two alarms were struck Friday morning at 9511 Prince George Lane. That’s near Six Forks and Strickland roads, in north Raleigh. Dispatched ~12:07 p.m. First-due Engine 4 was out of quarters, on another call. With multiple callers reporting the fire, the dispatcher upgraded the incident to a working fire, while the fire department was still …
Proposed budgets for FY18 have been announced of late, for local cities and counties. Here’s what’s happening on the fire department and fire service fronts, in those proposed budgets released thus far: Raleigh Salary range adjustments for firefighters, part of changes to compensation system for fire and police. Includes such adjustments as: Starting pay will increase …
The Apex Fire Department placed a new Rescue 4 in service at Station 4 on Saturday, May 13. The 2017 E-One Typhoon walk-around heavy-rescue, job #140490 , was delivered on April 21. Features include top-mounted coffin compartments, a rear staircase, and a lighting tower. (Believe it also has a cascade system, for filling air bottles.) …
The Wake County Fire Commission meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 18, 2017, has been cancelled. All necessary business was completed at the May 4 special-called meeting.
North Carolina Strike Force 1. Ever heard of that entity? They were the state’s first Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team, organized in the late 1990s. They were conceived as a regional technical rescue team that was based in Forsyth and Davidson counties. They were incorporated as a non-profit organization in 2000, and renamed from …
Continue reading ‘NC Strike Force 1, NC USAR Teams, Forsyth Rescue, and More History’ »