New Ladder for Apex

Recording this older news as a blog post, for the historical record. Late last year, the town of Apex received a new ladder truck, a 2019 Spartan/Smeal, 2000/400/105-foot. It was delivered in September/October. Exact date TBD.  New Ladder 35 was placed in service at Station 5 on January __, 2020. It was operated at Station …

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Raleigh Retires the Last Fire Horses, November 1914

The Raleigh Fire Department ended its horse-drawn era in November 1914. Reported the News & Observer on November 14, 1914: “Faithful Fire Horses No Longer Needed” “Bill and Frank Will Never Again Carry Wagon to a Fire; Both Have Fine Records” “Bill and Frank, the two beautiful black horses of the old Rescue Company, have …

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Boone Gets a Tiller!

This is a blog version of a Facebook posting from June 10, 2019.  For years, many have heard that the Boone Fire Department in Western North Carolina once had a tiller. And it was parked in the rear of Station 1, in an downstairs bay accessed by an alley.  After years of searching–okay, occasional searching–Mr. …

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Fire Trucks Built by Alexander Welding of Raleigh

Alexander Welding and Manufacturing Company of Raleigh (1931-1980) built commercial truck bodies and notably tank trucks, including tractor-drawn tank trailers. They also built a number of fire apparatus. They also have a family connection to Atlas Steel Products (later Atlas Fire Apparatus) and Emergency Equipment Inc. (EEI), the latter operated by the son and grandson, …

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Raleigh Retires Snorkel

End of an era. This week, the City of Raleigh Fire Department’s beloved Snorkel was retired. Effective April 1, 2020. The 1988 Pierce Arrow, with an 85-foot boom and no pump, had served as a reserve apparatus for over a decade. It was currently designated Ladder 210. Most recently and famous, it operated at one …

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Knightdale Fire Study, 2018

On Thursday, February 13, 2020, a community meeting was held in eastern Wake County, to present a proposed merger of the Eastern Wake Fire Department with the town of Knightdale and its fire department. During the meeting, a town-commissioned 2018 study of the Knightdale Fire Department was heavily referenced. Here’s that document: www.legeros.com/blog/docs/2018-knightdale-study.pdf The four …

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New Trailer for USAR 3

North Carolina Task Force 8 has received a new trailer for USAR 3. It’s their first first curtain-side trailer, which will allow access from both sides as well as the back. It’ll replace a box trailer that transports their Base of Operation (BoO) portable shelter system, which includes tents, showers, cots, generators and HVAC systems, …

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Durham Rescue Trucks in 1974

For your Friday enjoyment, here’s a vintage picture of Durham’s early rescue trucks. Left is the city-county rescue squad’s second truck, a late 1960s GMC van procured after the original late 1950s Civil Defense rescue truck was wrecked in November 1966. Right is the squad’s third and newly repaired rescue truck, with a new Ford …

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Greensboro’s 1904 American LaFrance Steam Engine #496

Here’s a history of American LaFrance steam engine #496, built in 1904 for Greensboro, NC, and later owned by private collectors in North Carolina and Florida, and finally residing at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Ohio. The restored steamer is being auction. This text and these images were copied from the auction listing.  “Built for …

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