Updated – Wake County Fire Commission Meetings – May 5 & May 12, 2016

May 10, 2016 Here’s the agenda for the May 12 meeting. See accompanying agenda packet (PDF): Meeting Called to Order: Chairman Lucius Jones Invocation Roll of Members Present Public Comments Comments from the public will be received at the time appointed by the Chairman of the FireCommission for 30 minutes maximum time allotted, with a …

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Vintage Photo of Raleigh Service Truck in 1987

For your Monday evening enjoyment, here’s another vintage photo from David Raynor, this one of a Raleigh service ladder truck, operating at a fire at St. Mary’s and Hargett streets in 1987. That’s Truck 15, a 1964 GMC that was shop-built using the ladder rack from Raleigh’s first service truck, a 1922 American LaFrance. It …

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Johnston County Line of Duty Deaths – Historical Perspective

On Saturday and the same day that the state’s fallen firefighters were honored in a ceremony at Nash Square in downtown Raleigh, another member of the North Carolina fire service died in the line of duty. Kenly Firefighter John M. Davis Jr., 45, suffered a heart attack while working at the scene of an overturned …

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New Crash Truck Delivered at Airport – September 1969

In September 1969, a new fire engine was delivered at Raleigh-Durham Airport. The Ansul 480 “aircraft crash rescue vehicle” was built on a 1969 International Harvster Loadstar chassis by Southeastern Safety Appliance Company in Charlotte. The Airport Authority authorized its purchase on August 5 of that year. It cost $32,250.50. The truck was equipped with …

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North Carolina Fallen Firefighters Ceremony – May 7, 2016

This Saturday, May 7, 2016, the annual North Carolina Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service will be conducted at Nash Square in downtown Raleigh. The event starts at 1:00 p.m. and will be preceded with a parade at 10:00 a.m., featuring honor guards, pipes and drums, and fire apparatus. See event information. In addition, motorcyclists from across …

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Mecklenburg County Line of Duty Deaths – Historical Perspective

Arrangements were announced today [link expired] for Pineville Firefighter Richard Sheltra, who died in the line of duty at a strip mall fire in Charlotte on Saturday. Sheltra is the seventeenth line-of-duty death in (or from ) Mecklenburg County. The first were recorded in 1914, when Charlotte Fire Chief J. Harvey Wallace and Captain William …

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New Oshkosh Striker 3000 Delivered at Airport

On Thursday morning, a new crash truck was delivered to Raleigh-Durham International Airport. The 2016 Oshkosh Striker 3000, 2000/3200/420/450#/460# plus Snozzle is first new ARFF rig since 2000, and the first lime apparatus in a quarter century. The truck was purchased with 85% of funding from federal and state sources, and thus the safety yellow …

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Travel Report – Hose Reels & Hose Houses

In days of old, when crews were bold, and motor trucks hadn’t been invented, hydrant pressure was used to fight fire. Simply supply hose and nozzles–and a water system with hydrants–and your fire department was equipped. Reels of hose pulled by hand were common, and notably in small towns. (Though they were used in cities …

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Fallen Firefighter Research Resource – Find a Grave

On Saturday, May 7, 2016, the annual memorial service for North Carolina’s fallen firefighters will be held at Nash Square in downtown Raleigh. More about that event in an upcoming. ‘Tis also the season for Mr. Blogger to update his records, notably his fallen firefighter database. Rediscovered a nifty research resource on that front. Find …

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