Two Alarms on Blue Bird Court – June 20, 2025

Two alarms were struck in west Raleigh on Friday, June 20, 2025. Dispatched ~12:06 a.m. for 4706 Blue Bird Court. Two-story apartment building. Engine 8 first-arriving, reporting fire in attic space. Engine 20 brought the supply line. Fire also/soon through the roof, from live power line found on roof and/or tree limbs touching roof. Second …

Continue reading ‘Two Alarms on Blue Bird Court – June 20, 2025’ »

Bald Head Island Major Fire – November 20, 2021

This is a blog version of a Facebook posting from June 17, 2025. Looking back at the North Bald Head Wynd Fire AKA the Lighthouse Landing Fire, and which contributed to the reasons for purchasing the new apparatus. It occurred on Saturday night, November 20, 2021, and was one of the largest fire events in …

Continue reading ‘Bald Head Island Major Fire – November 20, 2021’ »

Bald Head Island Major Fire – September 30, 1993

This is a blog version of a Facebook Posting from May 4, 2020. Photos by Bonny Banas (top) and [goes here] (bottom). Looking back at the largest fire in the history of Bald Head Island in Brunswick County, NC. It destroyed ten buildings with 38 units at the Swan’s Quarter Condominiums on Wednesday night, September …

Continue reading ‘Bald Head Island Major Fire – September 30, 1993’ »

Navy Jet Crash in Hertford – February 21, 1957

This is a blog version of a Facebook posting on June 15, 2025. Looking back at the close call of all close calls, when a Navy jet fighter crashed within 200 yards of Perquimans County High School in Hertford, NC, on the morning of February 21, 1957. Two people were killed and a third person …

Continue reading ‘Navy Jet Crash in Hertford – February 21, 1957’ »

B-52 Bomber Crash Near Goldsboro – January 24, 1961

Looking back at the “broken arrow” B-52 bomber crash near Goldsboro (NC) on January 24, 1961. With period photos and news clippings, plus a visit to the crash site today. At 12:15 a.m., a B-52G Stratofortress operated by the 424 1st Strategic Air Command Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and carrying two unarmed …

Continue reading ‘B-52 Bomber Crash Near Goldsboro – January 24, 1961’ »

Medical Helicopter Crashes in North Carolina

Research notes on medical helicopter crashes and accidents in North Carolina, both fatal and non-fatal. Pictured is the Life Force crash in Macon County in March 2023. The four crew members all survived with minor to moderate injuries. Photo credit TBD.  1980s Duke Life Flight, Duke University Hospital, Durham 7/21/1986 Crashed near NC 751 and …

Continue reading ‘Medical Helicopter Crashes in North Carolina’ »

Old Salisbury Road Shootings – July 18, 1988

View Google Drive folder of clippings.    Early on the night of Sunday, July 18, 1988, gunshots were heard in the vicinity of the shop, at 7:00 p.m. and again at 10:20 p.m. No calls were placed to law enforcement. Witnesses also saw a man walking around his front yard with his rifle at 8:30 …

Continue reading ‘Old Salisbury Road Shootings – July 18, 1988’ »

Radiator Specialty Company Explosion – November 26, 1980

This is a blog version of a Facebook posting from April 6, 2025. Looking back at the Radiator Specialty Company explosion and fire in Union County, NC, on November 26, 1980, from newspaper accounts in the Charlotte News and Charlotte Observer over the next couple days. On a Wednesday morning, just after 9 a.m., an …

Continue reading ‘Radiator Specialty Company Explosion – November 26, 1980’ »

Kernersville Helicopter Rescue and Crash, September 25 1984

This is a blog version of a Facebook posting on March 25, 2025 Recounting the fatal helicopter crash in downtown Kernersville on September 25, 1984, during the attempted rescue/recovery of an injured worker atop a decommissioned water tower. The incident started about 6:10 p.m. after 19 year-old Charles Glenwood Tompkins Jr. as injured while working …

Continue reading ‘Kernersville Helicopter Rescue and Crash, September 25 1984’ »

The Davie Street Fire in Greensboro – April 13, 1985

Joseph Rodriguez / Greensboro News and Record photos On April 13, 1985, the largest fire in Greensboro’s history destroyed turn-of-the-last-century warehouse buildings–including some that were nearly finished being renovated into apartments–on both sides of the 300 block of South Davie Street. The three-alarm fire was battled for hours, it destroyed and severely damaged seven buildings, …

Continue reading ‘The Davie Street Fire in Greensboro – April 13, 1985’ »