History of the Second Engine at Durham Station 2

Let’s look at the history of a second engine at Durham Station 2. In 1928, was surveyed by the National Board of Fire Underwriters. Among the findings was that the city needed more fire stations. It noted that while fire companies were closed grouped for protection of the main mercantile and manufacturing districts, additional engine …

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Block of Buildings Burns in Downtown Durham, July 1944

Morning history. Let’s take a deep dive into a major fire in the Bull City back in the city. See also comments for additional notes. On Saturday night, July 8, 1944, one of the largest fires in downtown Durham’s history destroyed an entire block of buildings along “Tobacco Row.” The first call was received at …

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Siloam Bridge Collapse – February 23, 1975

Updated: March 25, 2025, with additional clippings and artifacts added to the linked Google Drive. This is a blog version of a Facebook posting from February 2025.  Here’s a short summary about the Siloam Bridge Collapse, that we learned about this week.  This happened on Sunday night, February 23, 1975, in Siloam, NC, on the …

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Raleigh Run Numbers – 2024

Run numbers for Raleigh for 2024. Here they are and now including incident type totals and a quick historical comparison. Overall Summary Total incidents – 58,166 Total per-unit runs – 83,697 Historical Comparison   2024 2023 2022 Total Incidents 58,166 54,746 53,238 Total Per-Unit Runs 83,697 77,425 73,166 Here’s a PDF document with numbers from …

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Broughton Hospital Fire Brigade

Remembering the Broughton Hospital Fire Brigade in Morganton. The hospital opened in 1883 as the Western North Carolina Insane Asylum. It state’s second psychiatric hospital, after one was established in Raleigh. The new hospital was built on a 283-acre site, just south of downtown Morganton. In 1885 and 1886, two new wings were added, expanding …

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Charlotte South Park Fire After-Action Report

The Charlotte Fire Department has released an after-action report on the Liberty Row Fire (AKA South Park Fire) on May 18, 2023. The five-alarm commercial structure fire was one of the city’s largest in recent history.  Read the 96-page document (PDF)  Listen to radio traffic from the fire (YouTube)  Five alarms in Charlotte on May …

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Database of Emergency Equipment Inc. (EEI) Fire Apparatus

Here’s one we’ve been waiting for. Presenting a delivery list of over 330 rigs built by Emergency Equipment Incorporated (EEI) of Raleigh This list was compiled over many, many years by Jon Umdenstock of Durham. And he welcomes inputs and corrections, just send him an email. View the database. Learn more about EEI and its predecessors …

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Polly Watson Merging with Nahunta Fire Department

News from Wayne County. Effective September 1, 2024, Polly Watson Fire Department merged into Nahunta Fire Department. There are now two NFD stations, the main station (Nahunta) on Nahunta Road and a satellite station (Polly Waston) on Highway 581. The departments share 114 years of combined history, organized in 1958 and 1976 respectively.

Fire Museum Moves to Blowing Rock, 1959

This posting is occasionally updated with new information. Last updated February 4, 2026. Note: See also these two active Facebook threads: Legeros Fire Line and SPAAMFAA (private group) Watauga Democrat, May 28, 1959. In May 1959, the fire equipment and fire apparatus collection of Vincent K. O’Meara of Hialeah, FL, was moved to the Tweetsie …

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