About Words: Service, Service Trucks, Service Companies

Let’s look at some uses of the word “service” in the fire service, starting with “Service Company.”  That’s a descriptor from the Insurance Services Office (ISO), used in their Fire Suppression Rating Schedule. Service companies operate service trucks (see below) and ISO awards points for specific equipment carried therein. See this page[1] of information. [1] …

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Remembering Bay Leaf Fire Tower Operator Jenny Tilley

Cornelia “Jenny” Crabtree Tilley, 90, passed away in Raleigh last week. She was the longtime operator of the Bay Leaf forestry fire tower, first located at Six Forks Road, a half-mile north of “Six Forks” (1937-1968) and then moved to Howard Road, just west of Creedmoor Road (1968-present). Click to enlarge: She was one of …

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More Vintage Wallops Flight Facility Fire Apparatus

By way of this thread in the Facebook group Fire & Rescue Apparatus 25 Years And Older, from Aaron Moore and originally photographed by someone at WFFFD, here are vintage rigs of NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility fire department. They’ve been added to my department profile and Antares rocket explosion recap, which originated as a blog …

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Raleigh’s Old Steamer Gets Gong, Passes Boiler Inspection

Last month, Raleigh’s old steam fire engine received some work. A new gong was installed, and the boiler passed its annual state inspection. The 1905 American LaFrance Metropolitan steam engine was moved to Station 29, and “A” platoon personnel (shown below) assisted Steamer Committee members with its annual state-mandated boiler inspection. On July 29, a …

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The Yarborough Hotel Fire – July 3, 1928

From Research Central, here’s a new retrospective. Raleigh’s renowned Yarborough Hotel on Fayetteville Street. Was the social and political center of the city for decades. Burned on July 3, 1928. Brought hundreds to the scene, as well as engines from Durham and Smithfield.  Posted on the Raleigh Fire Museum web site, the account is pulled …

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Rural Fire Protection Origins – Guilford County

How did rural fire protection begin in North Carolina? That’s been a nagging question for a few years now. We posted this historical perspective from 1977, with excerpts from a state government document.  But how about some details? What were the developments among individual counties? We’ve asked for inputs on our Facebook fire page, in …

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Greensboro Fire Department’s First Rescue Truck, 1944

November 18 From our friends at GFD, here’s a color(ized) photo of the rescue truck, along with other apparatus and vehicles at (old) Central Fire Station on North Greene Street. Click once or twice to enlarge: August 15 In October 1944, the Greensboro Fire Department placed their first rescue truck in service. By my estimate, …

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Active Shooter in Apex – May 30, 2010

This is a re-posting of a Legeros Blog Archives posting from May 30, 2010, that’s no longer available on the old site, due to technical problems. It was originally titled “This morning’s shooting in Apex.” Double shooting at 1201 Beaver Creek Commons Drive, at Target store. Dispatched about 11:09 a.m. Law enforcement response included Apex, …

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B-17 Bomber Crashes in Garner, May 9, 1944

The News & Observer this week published an excellent retrospective of the B-17 bomber crash[1] in Garner on May 9, 1944. The Flying Fortress crashed into a wooded area around 5:30 p.m. near the intersection of Garner and Vandora Springs Roads.  [1] Link from the Internet Archive, https://web.archive.org/web/20170813152122/http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/wake-county/article166514322.html Two crew members were killed, and six others parachuted …

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Carolina Beach Expands Fire Station, Plus Some History, 2013

This is a re-posting of a Legeros Blog Archives posting from June 29, 2013, that’s no longer available on the old site, due to technical problems. Here’s a neat story [link broken] from the Island Gazette about the expansion of the Carolina Beach Fire Department at 9 South Dow Road. They’re expanding their station with a …

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