Fuquay-Varina’s New Rescue

As photographed by Lee Wilson, the Fuquay-Varina Fire Department received their new rescue on Tuesday. Their new Rescue 1 is a 2016 Spartan MetroStar. It replaces a 1995 Freightliner/S&S, which will be sold. See more photos from Lee. How many custom-cab rescues does that make in Wake County, these days? Here’s the list: Apex, Cary …

Continue reading ‘Fuquay-Varina’s New Rescue’ »

Local Air Force Aircraft Accidents, 1919 to 1954

Have lately been researching local air crashes, and become increasingly curious about military aircraft incidents. (Have found a couple, including a B-17 crash in Garner in 1944.) Let’s get more exhaustive via this database of Air Force Accident Reports from the Aviation Archaeological Investigation & Research. They’ve indexed USAAF and USAF reports from 1918 to 1955, …

Continue reading ‘Local Air Force Aircraft Accidents, 1919 to 1954’ »

Fewer Fires, More Firefighters? Marketing Challenges in the Fire Service

Now that’s a great title for a conference talk, isn’t? Saw the below statements in a Huffington Post piece on the subject of “universal basic income.” It imagines a visitor to our planet trying to make sense of how humans spend their time, and notably with regard to work, the pursuit of income, and advancements …

Continue reading ‘Fewer Fires, More Firefighters? Marketing Challenges in the Fire Service’ »

Salisbury Renovates, Reactivates Historic Fire Station

The Salisbury Fire Department last year re-activated their historic Old Station 2 at 1402 S. Main Street. The 1942 engine house was renovated and restored by firefighters, after being vacated by the city’s Landscaping and Parks and Recreation departments. Let’s chat with Salisbury Fire Chief Bob Parnell about the building (now named Station 5), its …

Continue reading ‘Salisbury Renovates, Reactivates Historic Fire Station’ »

Updated – Former Bay Leaf Midi Pumper Found

[ Updated with more info. on the truck’s history. ] From a reader, this former Bay Leaf midi pumper was found in Erwin, TN. Former Unicio FD Engine 3, 1979 Chevrolet C-70/Pierce, 400/400. E0155. (Thanks Micah, for the specs!) Another reader (via our Facebook page) tells that the truck was bought by Fire Chief D. …

Continue reading ‘Updated – Former Bay Leaf Midi Pumper Found’ »

Ex-Army ARFF Truck Turned Tanker for Tennessee Community

Would you believe an Oshkosh M-23 (rare civilian version of the legendary P-15) as a tanker for a Tennessee resort community? This story from the Times Free Press has been making the rounds. There’s a development called Jasper Highlands in Marion County, TN. The area was previously covered by the Foster Falls FD, but last …

Continue reading ‘Ex-Army ARFF Truck Turned Tanker for Tennessee Community’ »

Looking Closely at the Airport’s 1959 Walter Crash Truck

It’s airport week at Blog Central! Time for some time travel… Raleigh-Durham International Airport has operated four Walter crash trucks in its day, the first being a 1959 Class 1500 that was acquired some time around 1970. Below is the closest we have to a posed photo of the thing. Click to enlarge: News and …

Continue reading ‘Looking Closely at the Airport’s 1959 Walter Crash Truck’ »

Seagrave Deliveries in North Carolina – 1906 to 1951

June 23, 2019 Here’s a posting about the entire painter’s log, added to my new digital history library: https://legeros.com/blog/seagrave-paint-log-1906-1951. March 20, 2016 What do the pages of the painter’s log look like? Here’s an example: And here’s a page that mentions Tarboro, North Carolina. Page 119, from 1933. The notation says something like “April 18th, …

Continue reading ‘Seagrave Deliveries in North Carolina – 1906 to 1951’ »

New Org Chart for Wake County Fire Services

Wake County Fire Services has implemented a new organizational chart, with two new Deputy Director positions reporting to the Fire Service Director, a new Logistics Manager position, and a couple other changes. Let’s chat with Fire Services Director Nick Campasano for a closer look. The new structure was originally conceived by [prior Fire Services Director] …

Continue reading ‘New Org Chart for Wake County Fire Services’ »