Archive of posts filed under the History category.

Deadliest Mass Shootings in North Carolina History

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Research notes on the deadliest mass shootings in North Carolina history, expanded from this Facebook posting on September 28, 2025. These notes are still undergoing review and revisions.  Supplement to Mike Legeros deadliest disaster database.  Abbreviations: SP (Single Perpetrator) MP (Multiple Perpetrators) Type Incident Date / Location Killed Wounded Total Casualties Source SP Carthage Nursing …

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Winston-Salem Armory Explosion – September 26, 1969

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View clippings and other documents Introduction On Saturday, September 26, 1969, a methane explosion and flash fire at the National Guard Armory on Silas Creek Parkway in Winston-Salem injured 25 members of the North Carolina National Guard. Seven of the most seriously injured were flown to an Army burn center in Texas. Three later died. …

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Tracking Engine Swaps in Raleigh

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It’s the season of engine swaps in Raleigh, with four new Pierce Sabers and four new Pierce Enforcers delivered this summer. The four Sabers were recently placed in service as Engines 21 26 27 28. The older pumpers assigned to each company have been reassigned to other companies. Here’s a tracking chart of these and …

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Apparatus Accidents with Civilian Fatalities

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Last updated August 17, 2025. This is an updated blog version of a Facebook posting from 2009. Research notes on civilian fatalities in fire apparatus accidents in North Carolina.    Contents 2025 – Durham – Quint 19 / motorcycle, 1 fatality 2023 – Charlotte – Ladder 24 / motorcycle, 1 fatality 2019 – Kannapolis – …

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Wilmington Natural Gas Explosion and Fire – August 5, 1987

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Looking back at the natural gas explosion and flash fire in downtown Wilmington August 5, 1987.  Timeline On August 5, 1987, Welco Construction and Utilities Company, based in Florence, SC, was excavating in the 4600 block of Market Street. They were installing sanitary sewer lines in preparation for a project to widen Market Street. The …

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Navy Plane Crashes into Building at Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, July 31, 1974

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For our Friday history, let’s head over to Pasquotank County and Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City on July 31, 1974, when Navy radar plane crashed into a building, killing the pilot and three civilian workers inside. Two others aboard the plane survived with injuries, along with 12 others, including several firefighters. On that Wednesday …

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Car Strikes Jet on Ground in Winston-Salem – May 24, 1967

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Winston-Salem history hit. Before it crashed after a midair collision over Hendersonville, NC, on July 19, 1967, the first passenger jet operated by Piedmont Airlines had an unusual accident on the ground in May 1967. The airline had recently started jet service from their base at Smith Reynolds Airport. However, their hangar was located on …

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Piedmont Flight 22 and the Midair Collision Over Hendersonville – July 19, 1967

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Read retrospective and research notes from 2017 (103M, PDF) See other photos, clippings, and the NTSB report in this Google Drive folder. Introduction Looking back at the deadliest plane crash in North Carolina history, when 82 people were killed on Wednesday, July 19, 1967, after Piedmont Flight 22 collided with a Cessna 310 and both …

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Lynn Road Fire Station – End of an Era

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This is a blog version of a Facebook posting. Another milestone happened on July 1, 2025, in Wake County, when Northern Wake Fire Department ended operations at Station 5 at 1431 Lynn Road, at a facility co-located with Wake County EMS.  The station’s response area was redistricted effective that date, with 27 first-due parcels reassigned …

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Garner and Rolesville Municipal Mergers

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This is a blog version of a Facebook posting. Congratulations to Garner Fire Department and Rolesville Fire Department. Effective July 1, 2025, each merged with their respective municipalities, Town of Garner, NC Government and Town of Rolesville, NC. Congrats to all. They’re two of oldest community fire departments in Wake County. Garner FD was organized …

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