Photographing Fire Apparatus – FireNews Feature From 2008

In 2008, fire buff and photographer Jeff Harkey posted a series of articles about fire apparatus photography on his site FireNews.net. The articles included contributions from photographers Lee Wilson and Mike Legeros. The site and the articles have been preserved by the Internet Archive. Here’s a compilation of the articles in PDF format, created in January …

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Wake County Fire Department Updates – January 2023

Here’s a new “armchair update” on what’s news and new at the various fire departments around Wake County. Thanks to the various fire chiefs that shared their information.  Apex New Station 6 nearing completion, 1206 Wimberly Road. Expected to open in late March or early April. See drawings in this blog post.  New E-One Typhoon …

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Durham County Truck History

This is a blog version of a Facebook posting from December 21, 2019. Top photos from Durham Herald Company Newspaper Photograph Collection, North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Bottom photos by Lee Wilson. First County Pumper – 1948 Mack Durham’s first “county fire truck” was delivered …

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Oren Fire Apparatus in North Carolina

Let’s start a list of Oren apparatus that served in North Carolina. Pictured rigs marked with (*): *Burlington – 1940 Diamond T/Oren – #RW&E-1363 – Legeros photo *Cape Fear Rural (Lee) – 1953 Ford/Oren – Engine 51 – Lee Wilson photo *Charlotte – 1953 Ford Big Job/Oren, 500/1000 – Engine 10 at Morris Field, high-pressure unit …

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Wake County’s First Rural Fire Truck

Morning history. Random find. The first “rural truck” in Wake County history. Built by members of the Apex Fire Department in 1952, to expand service to “rural residents,” e.g. those that lived outside of the town limits. News & Observer photos from May (top) and August (bottom) 1952, scanned from film prints.  Reported the paper …

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Beck Fire Trucks Built in Davidson County

Update July 18. 2024. Added picture of picture from Welcome FD, of the first two trucks Beck built for the department. This is a blog version of Legeros Fire Line Facebook postings from September 2022. Mike Legeros Photo We recently learned of another fire truck builder in North Carolina. Jacob C. “Jake” Beck in Davidson …

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Raleigh Rescue Boats, Past and Present

With the remnants of Hurricane Ian reaching Raleigh today, here’s a look at the city’s water rescue vehicles, past and present. Left to right, top to bottom: 1953 wooden rescue boats, originally operated by the Raleigh Emergency Rescue Squad at Station 1. And they’ve survived to this date, presently in storage. Lee Wilson photo, from …

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