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 …
Continue reading ‘Mecklenburg County Line of Duty Deaths – Historical Perspective’ »
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 the 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, thus the safety yellow …
Continue reading ‘New Oshkosh Striker 3000 Delivered at Airport’ »
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 …
Continue reading ‘Travel Report – Hose Reels & Hose Houses’ »
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 blog post. ‘Tis also the season for Mr. Blogger to update his records, notably his fallen firefighter database. Rediscovered a nifty research resource on that …
Continue reading ‘Fallen Firefighter Research Resource – Find a Grave’ »
Here’s the spring issue of the Raleigh Fire Department Newsletter–now in its tenth year of publication!–freshly posted to www.raleighfirenews.org. Contents include facilities updates for Station 6, Station 5, and the training center; FireWatch retooled for the web; annual stats and a year in review; firefighter awards; and retirements, promotions, appointments, and passings. The newsletter is …
Continue reading ‘Raleigh Fire Department Newsletter – Spring 2016’ »
Note: See subsequent posting about the truck’s delivery on April 28, 2016. Production is complete on the airport’s new 2016 Oshkosh Striker 3000, 2000/3200/420/450#/460# + Snozzle. It’s also the first lime apparatus since the 1990s. Here are some pictures from the pre-delivery inspection last week, shared by our friends at RDU Fire-Rescue. Delivery is expected …
Continue reading ‘UPDATED – New Crash Truck Coming to RDU Airport’ »
This is the third in a series of blog postings about Wake County EMS, and their celebration this year of their 40th anniversary. Read the first posting and second posting. Wake County EMS – Then & Now Comparing the trucks, the equipment, the medics, the call volume, the response areas, and more. View the chart (PDF).
The South Atlantic FIRE RESCUE Expo moves to Charlotte this year (and next year). The annual golf tournament will be held on Monday, August 8, and Tuesday, August 9, at the Verdict Ridge Golf & Country Club in Denver, NC. Shotgun start at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, and 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday. Plus practice rounds …
Continue reading ‘South Atlantic Fire Expo Golf Tourney – August 8-9, 2016’ »
The Raleigh Fire Department Golf Committee has announced their hosting of the 10th Annual Golf Tournament and Fundraiser to support the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF). The tournament will be held on Monday, June 20, 2016, at Bentwinds Golf and Country Club in Fuquay-Varina. See this registration information. And new this year, you can donate …
Continue reading ‘10th Annual National Fallen Firefighters Golf Tournament – Monday, June 20’ »
From a blog reader (thanks Greg), High Shoals Fire Department in Gaston County changed their name last year to North Gaston Fire Department. They are Station 21 in the county system. HSFD was incorporated as High Shoals Volunteer Fire Department Inc. on June 9, 1960. They changed their name to High Shoals Volunteer Fire and …