Wilmington Airport Apparatus History

This is a blog version of a Facebook posting. Presenting fire apparatus past and present that have served at Wilmington International Airport.  1954 ALF Type O-11A – 500/1000/100/80 Likely serial #54L210, which was former NCANG Included 80 gallons Chlorobromomethane Possibly sold at auction, along with second 1954 ALF crash truck, at surplus airport property sale …

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Wilmington’s Auxiliary Apparatus during World War II

Research notes about Wilmington and New Hanover County auxiliary firefighters during World War II. This was a national civilian defense initiative, and auxiliary firefighters were trained and equipped in cities and towns across North Carolina.  Wilmington Auxiliary Apparatus Among the equipment acquired and developed for the program by members of the Wilmington Fire Department were …

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Wilmington’s Fire Boat Atlantic IV

While in Baltimore July 2010, for the occasion of the annual fire expo, Mr. History was poking around a random marina. Imagine his surprise when he found the T. B. McClintic, an old tug that had served the Wilmington, NC, fire department for a few decades as the fire boat Atlantic IV. Wish we’d taken …

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Civil Defense Directors of Raleigh and Wake County

How about a dip into Raleigh-Wake civil defense history? Reader Scott Womack acquired a Raleigh Civil Defense Director badge and asks, who would’ve worn this? Let’s try to answer the question via some News & Observer articles and other sources. Pre-History – During World War II there were numerous civilian defense initiatives both in Raleigh and …

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Wake County Rescue Squad History – Drownings

This is a version of a Facebook posting from February 2021. It has been expanded with additional data. Last updated, June 10, 2024. Introduction This blog post presents research notes from newspaper stories about Wake County rescue squad responses to drownings in ponds, lakes, or creeks in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Drownings were a …

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Rolesville Fire Department Signs Unification Resolution with Town

On Tuesday, June 4, 2024, the leaders of the Town of Rolesville and the non-profit corporation Rolesville Rural Fire Department signed a unification resolution, to begin the formal process of merging the fire department with the town. During the past three years, both had been meeting collaboratively to discuss the benefits, concerns, challenges, and opportunities …

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Remembering Bob Bartosz

This was originally posted on Facebook. June 5, 2024, update. Arrangements for have been posted. Farewell will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 8, in Nashville, with an emergency services escort to begin the journey back to New Jersey. Burial services with fire department honors will be held at Monday in Cinnaminson, NJ. …

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Oldest Rescue Squads in North Carolina + Master List

Posting updated May 30, 2024, with banner graphic added. Database is also periodically updated with corrections.  Research notes on the oldest rescue squads in North Carolina. Originally compiled in September 2022 in this Facebook posting. Source data in this Google spreadsheet copied from Excel master file. Name County Status Start Stop Winston-Salem Rescue Squad, Inc. …

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Defiance Fire Company No. 2 of Statesville

In February, the City of Statesville posted a retrospective with new-old photos and information about Defiance Fire Company No. 2. They were an all-black volunteer fire company that was organized around 1894, and one of many in the state that formed in the mid- and late-19th century.[1] [1] In 1905, black fire companies were serving …

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