Research notes on the history of the Raleigh Fire Department hazardous materials response program. Pre-History 1980, Nov 19 – New federal regulations took effect to ensure safe management of hazardous waste, including identifying/notifying authorities of all sites that contained such products. 1982, Sep 13 – Fire in Charlotte at a chemical company forced the evacuation …
This posting is a consolidation and expansion of two Facebook postings and discussion threads from December 2025. See part 1 and part 2. Random notes on the history of fire alarm “street boxes” in Charlotte. Reference Documents View list of box locations before 1975 (PDF) Timeline Before 1900 1887, Nov – First fire alarm system …
This is a blog version of a Facebook posting from November 5, 2025. Pleasure Park Ridge Fire District photos Here’s a run card created by reader Kameron Brown–plus annotations added by Legeros–for the major incident in Louisville, KY, on November 3, 2025, involving an cargo jet crash + commercial building(s) + petroleum recycling facility just …
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From our archives, incomplete parts of a vintage Raleigh street map, circa 1960s. Download larger version (PDF, 61MB)
Chart updated October 15, 2025. Posting created August 23, 2023. This is a blog version of an earlier Facebook posting. Presenting a new infographic, a high-level history of fire service governance in Wake County. Source is this research on the history of Wake County fire protection and fire service governance. See also this history chart …
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Research notes on the deadliest mass shootings in North Carolina history, expanded from this Facebook posting on September 28, 2025. These notes are still undergoing review and revisions. Supplement to Mike Legeros deadliest disaster database. Abbreviations: SP (Single Perpetrator) MP (Multiple Perpetrators) Type Incident Date / Location Killed Wounded Total Casualties Source SP Carthage Nursing …
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Here’s the fire station location analysis for Burlington, NC, that was recently received by city council. See presentation slides + report. (PDF, 40MB)
View clippings and other documents Introduction On Saturday, September 26, 1969, a methane explosion and flash fire at the National Guard Armory on Silas Creek Parkway in Winston-Salem injured 25 members of the North Carolina National Guard. Seven of the most seriously injured were flown to an Army burn center in Texas. Three later died. …
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It’s the season of engine swaps in Raleigh, with four new Pierce Sabers and four new Pierce Enforcers delivered this summer. The four Sabers were recently placed in service as Engines 21 26 27 28. The older pumpers assigned to each company have been reassigned to other companies. Here’s a tracking chart of these and …
This is a blog version of a Facebook posting. Last week, the newly completed Raleigh Fire Department Master Plan was presented to city council, a consultant’s report commissioned last year. What’s the historical perspective on such documents? There have been many. Here are the ones that we know about: 1958 – Fire Protection Study 1970 …
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