Raleigh Recruit Academy Historical Facts and Figures

Raleigh Recruit Academies 50 (short) and 51 (long) started this week. Here are some historical facts ‘n’ figures about the recruit academies. Largest graduating class – Academy 48 (2002) – 49 grads Followed by #41 (2016) with 37 grads, #42 (2017) with 36 grads, #23 (1999) with 36 grads, etc. Smallest graduating class – Academy …

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Three Asheville Firefighters Killed in Bostian Bridge Train Wreck, 1891

This posted was updated in March 2023 with an important correction, about the correct names of the three firefighters killed. It’s also been expanded with new narratives about the incident and its aftermath, and converted to a linked PDF document.  On August 27, 1891, three Asheville firemen were killed and three others were injured when …

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Charlotte Airport Fire History

Let’s build a history of airport fire protection in Charlotte.  Update, February 24, 2023. Migrated to PDF format.  See this document: https://legeros.com/history/charlotte/charlotte-airport-fire-history.pdf  See also this fleet roster: https://legeros.com/history/fleets/charlotte-airport.pdf See also this infographic on early NCANG ARFF rigs: https://legeros.com/history/charts/content/ncang-crash-trucks.pdf 

Aerialscopes of North Carolina

Last updated May 20, 2024. How many Aerialscopes served in North Carolina, over the decades? Here’s a montage plus list.  Avery County 1976 Mack CF/Baker – 0/0/75′ – Lee Wilson photo Ex-Cherry Hill Twp, NJ. Sold to Blackstone, VA, in 2003. Boone 1987 Mack/Baker – 0/0/85′ –  Lee Wilson photo Ex-demo unit? Chassis #CF688, FAPS-1161 …

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Elon College and a Tale of Two Fire Departments

The story is a familiar one. Members of a municipal-based fire department separate themselves into a second group to serve rural residents. A second organization fire department is formed. The resulting relationship between the two departments can be good or not so good. The latter was the case in Elon College in Alamance County in the …

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Snorkels in North Carolina

Last updated February 6, 2023 – Content converted from web page to PDF document. This is a re-posting of a Legeros Blog Archives posting from December 21, 2013, that’s no longer available on the old site, due to technical problems.   Presenting a master list of all articulating platforms, including snorkels, that have served in North …

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Waynesville Fire Chief Lawrence Kerley Killed in Explosion – July 14, 1942

This is a blog version of a Facebook posting from August 14, 2020. Tale of a tragedy. Early in the morning of Tuesday, July 14, 1942, a pair of explosion at a bulk fuel storage facility in Waynesville, NC, killed six people, and also fatally injured Fire Chief Lawrence Kerley. Below are a pair of …

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Raleigh Firefighter Loses Leg, 1958

This is an expanded version of a blog archives posting (PDF) from September 4, 2012. The history of the Raleigh Fire Department includes instances of members who were permanently disabled as a result of injuries on duty. Here’s one of those stories.   RFD yearbook portrait, 1984 On February 18, 1958, Raleigh firefighter Claude W. Johnson …

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