Archive of posts filed under the History category.

North Carolina Black Fire Companies in 1905

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Here’s a historical treat. Tabular data of the state’s black fire companies in 1905, in Concord, Durham, Edenton, Elizabeth City, Greenville, Henderson, Monroe, Oxford, Raleigh, Rocky Mount, Salisbury, Statesville, Tarboro, Warrenton, Washington, Wilson, and Winston-Salem. Click to enlarge: These pages are from digitized conference proceedings of the North Carolina State Volunteer Firemen’s Association. They were …

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Building a Better Rescue

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This posting is an expanded version of an article that first appeared in the fall 2018 issue of the Raleigh Fire Department Newsletter. New Rescue, New Quarters The City of Raleigh Fire Department recently placed a new heavy rescue in service, a 2018 Pierce Arrow XT that was custom-designed by department members. The truck was …

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When Gateway Plaza Burned, December 1987

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December 2 Log book excerpts added at bottom of posting. November 25 Development is comin’ to the Capital Boulevard corridor inside the Beltline. Or, perhaps, more development. The Gateway Plaza shopping center, built in 1968, is planned for Big Things. Here are a couple news stories on same, from the Triangle Business Journal (2016) and News & …

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Locating a Line of Duty Death – Cary, 1960

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November 19Looking More Closely…Let’s revisit our recent postings about the June 16, 1960, apparatus accident that killed Cary firefighter Vernon Thompson. Super-close cropping of the News & Observer images gives clues on the Raleigh FD response to the incident. Observe what’s seen here. Top is one of the city’s four 1951/1953 ALF 700 pumpers (based …

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Looking Closely at the Capital Hose Company, Circa 1902

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Alert! Alert!  New old photo found! The North Carolina State Archives recently added this image to their collection. It was cataloged in 2014 and one of a handful of surviving turn-of-the-century images of the Raleigh Fire Department. Call number N. 2014.9.1. It shows the Capital Hose Company competition reel team, circa 1902. They won the …

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Every Last Ladder Truck… Again

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Let’s update that posting and montage from February 2014, showing every last ladder truck operated by the Raleigh Fire Department.  How many do you recognize? Here’s your cheat sheet. As for the montage, it’s a low-res quickie. With a pair of catalog images included, as a change. Don’t believe either is Raleigh’s. And one truck is …

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Vintage Photo of Raleigh’s Old Tiller

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Here’s a vintage picture that I don’t believe we’ve shared before. Truck 1 at Station 2 at Memorial Auditorium. That’s the original tiller with its new cab, a 1939 ALF cab towing a 1916 ALF trailer. Two-section, crank-operated, wooden aerial ladder. Aerial Ladder Truck 1 was originally cross-staffed with the service ladder truck, a 1922 …

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Glenwood Towers – Major Fires and Fatal Fires

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While we’re still reflecting on the Glenwood Towers high-rise fire from last week, let’s look at the historical perspective. What other major fires–and fatal fires–have happened since it opened in 1971? Fatal Fires Feb. 2, 2003Philip George Moultrie, 55Fifth-floor apartment. Victim found on living room floor. Pronounced dead on the scene. Apparently started by smoking. Dispatched …

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Raleigh Company and Unit Moves, Effective October 27

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Be advised. Effective today, October 27, the following city fire companies and units were moved: Ladder 2 from Sta 11 to Sta 15,  riding the city’s fourth tiller, in service today Ladder 9 from Sta 29 to Sta 23  Battalion 4 from Sta 23 to Sta 18 Haz-Mat 2 from Sta 27 to Sta 29 …

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