This is a blog version of a Facebook posting from May 24, 2025. Let’s go back to World War II and and the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company, which was located at the current site of the state port. It built 243 ships from 1943 to 1946. They had their own fire department and at least …
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Photo credits: US Army 596th Transportation Brigade, Davis Diesel, Ray Hunt Design, Munson Boats, US Army, Hose & Nozzle Magazine. Let’s look at the fire and rescue boats of Marine Ocean Terminal Sunny Point in Brunswick County. Three fireboats going back to the 1950s plus a small rescue boat in recent years. Were there others? …
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Let’s look back at state hospital fire protection in our state and specifically Cherry Hospital outside Goldsboro. We’ve long documented the fire department and apparatus at Broughton Hospital in Morganton, but did you know that Cherry Hospital also had a fire department? First, some background. The facility first opened in 1880 and served black patients …
Let’s look at the history of a second engine at Durham Station 2. In 1928, was surveyed by the National Board of Fire Underwriters. Among the findings was that the city needed more fire stations. It noted that while fire companies were closed grouped for protection of the main mercantile and manufacturing districts, additional engine …
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Run numbers for Raleigh for 2024. Here they are and now including incident type totals and a quick historical comparison. Overall Summary Total incidents – 58,166 Total per-unit runs – 83,697 Historical Comparison 2024 2023 2022 Total Incidents 58,166 54,746 53,238 Total Per-Unit Runs 83,697 77,425 73,166 Here’s a PDF document with numbers from …
This is a version of a Facebook posting on December 13, 2024. What’s up with Raleigh Fire Department fleet updates, you ask? Here’s an infographic that tells that story. They’re in the thick of a long-overdue upgrade of their pumpers, both frontline and reserve. Plus a new air truck and new ladders next year and …
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Remembering the Broughton Hospital Fire Brigade in Morganton. The hospital opened in 1883 as the Western North Carolina Insane Asylum. It state’s second psychiatric hospital, after one was established in Raleigh. The new hospital was built on a 283-acre site, just south of downtown Morganton. In 1885 and 1886, two new wings were added, expanding …
Here’s one we’ve been waiting for. Presenting a delivery list of over 330 rigs built by Emergency Equipment Incorporated (EEI) of Raleigh This list was compiled over many, many years by Jon Umdenstock of Durham. And he welcomes inputs and corrections, just send him an email. View the database. Learn more about EEI and its predecessors …
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This posting is occasionally updated with new information. Last updated October 27, 2024. Added color photo of the museum at Tweetsie. Note: See also these two active Facebook threads: Legeros Fire Line and SPAAMFAA (private group) Watauga Democrat, May 28, 1959. In May 1959, the fire equipment and fire apparatus collection of Vincent K. O’Meara …
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This posting was last updated in July 2024, with added history of county rural fire protection before 1951. Introduction This posting originated as a Facebook posting in August 2020. Before 1951 – Part 1 In June 1945, county commissioners appointed George Sheek as Forsyth County Fire Chief. He was notably placed in charge of a …