Raleigh Run Numbers – 2025

Run numbers for Raleigh for 2025.   Overall Summary Total incidents – 61,886 Total per-unit runs – 90,166 Historical Comparison   2025 2024 2023 2022 Total Incidents 61,886 58,166 54,746 53,238 Total Per-Unit Runs 90,166 83,697 77,425 73,166 Here’s a PDF document with numbers from 1993 to 2022. It’s due for updating,  Incident Types, Largest to …

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History of Ambulance Service and Rescue Squads in Johnston County

This is a blog version of a Facebook posting.  Research notes on ambulance and rescue squad history in Johnston County.    1950 to 1959 1957, Jun – Johnston County Civil Defense Rescue Squad operating by this time. Based in Smithfield [NO, 6/3/57, GNA 1/31/59] 1958, Sep – Kenly Rescue Squad organized by September 1958. First …

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Burke County School Explosion – March 17, 1987

Looking back at the explosion and fire that destroyed Salem Junior High School in Burke County, NC, in March 1987. Tuesday night, March 17, 1987. Address was 1311 Salem Road, south of Morganton. Three-story brick building with 25,000+ square-feet. It was located on a campus that also included two elementary school facilities, a gymnasium, and …

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Broyhill Furniture Factory Fire – January 14, 1976

Fifty years ago this month, the Broyhill furniture factory in Marion, NC, burned on January 14, 1976. Here are some notes about the incident.  – Wednesday morning. – January 14, 1976. – 11:05 a.m. – Otis L. Broyhill furniture plant on West Henderson Street. [AC, 1/15/76] – Three-story building housed finishing room, where fire stated. …

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Raleigh Haz-Mat History

Research notes on the history of the Raleigh Fire Department hazardous materials response program.  Pre-History 1980, Nov 19 – New federal regulations took effect to ensure safe management of hazardous waste, including identifying/notifying authorities of all sites that contained such products. 1982, Sep 13 – Fire in Charlotte at a chemical company forced the evacuation …

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Wrightsville Beach Line of Duty Death – December 6, 1981

This is a version of a Facebook posting from December 6, 2021. On December 6, 1981, Wrightsville Beach volunteer Lt. Robert M. Wynn, 28, died in the line of duty at the Doak Apartments fire. Also severely injured was volunteer firefighter Jon Dennison, 21, who suffered second and third degree burns. At 1:13 a.m. on …

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Charlotte Fire Alarm System History

This posting is a consolidation and expansion of two Facebook postings and discussion threads from December 2025. See part 1 and part 2.  Random notes on the history of fire alarm “street boxes” in Charlotte. Reference Documents View list of box locations before 1975 (PDF) Timeline Before 1900 1887, Nov – First fire alarm system …

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Relocating Fire Station 3 – November Update

This is an ongoing blog posting about the project to relocate Raleigh Fire Station 3. Contents  Nov 2025 – November Update Feb 2025 – Construction Update Nov 2024 – Design + Public Art Unveiled Nov 2024 – Community Meeting Scheduled Oct 2024 – Site Clearing Started Aug 2024 – Construction Bid Awarded May 2024 – …

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MEDIC Starts Service in Charlotte – November 1, 1978

This is a blog version of a Facebook posting from November 6, 2025.  Morning reading. How ’bout some EMS history from Mecklenburg County and Charlotte. Forty-seven years ago this week, MEDIC, the Mecklenburg EMS Agency, began operating as the county’s new ambulance service. They were placed in service at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, November 1, …

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