November 19Looking More Closely…Let’s revisit our recent postings about the June 16, 1960, apparatus accident that killed Cary firefighter Vernon Thompson. Super-close cropping of the News & Observer images gives clues on the Raleigh FD response to the incident. Observe what’s seen here. Top is one of the city’s four 1951/1953 ALF 700 pumpers (based …
Continue reading ‘Locating a Line of Duty Death – Cary, 1960’ »
New Google Map, firefighter line of duty death incident locations in Raleigh and Wake County. Embedded below or click to view. Or read this history page.
This post originated as a Facebook posting on Legeros Fire Line. The 37th National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, October 7, 2018, at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD. The ceremony will honor the lives of 80 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2017 and 23 firefighters who died …
Update April 11, 2019 – Though initially suspected as caused by a natural gas explosion, it was later eliminated by investigators. Instead, they suspect a backdraft caused the explosion. See the detailed OSFM retrospective below. Updated this posting headline, changing “gas explosion” to “explosion” to reflect that important clarification. This retrospective first appeared on FireNews.net …
Continue reading ‘Four Shelby Firefighters Killed in Explosion, May 25, 1979’ »
Triple Community Fire Department firefighter Jason Keith Hensley, 40, was killed on Sunday night, while clearing debris on Highway 70 East near Drexel Road in Morganton. The fire department was dispatched to a tree blocking both east- and westbound lanes of the highway, just before midnight. Hensley responded in his personal vehicle, and a second firefighter …
Continue reading ‘Burke County Firefighter Struck, Killed While Clearing Debris’ »
Press release. The 36th Annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service will honor nine firefighters who died in the line of duty from North Carolina. They are among the 75 firefighters who died in 2016 and 20 firefighters who died in previous years who will be remembered at the official national service at the National Fire …
Video from Yours Truly of Saturday’s fallen firefighters memorial parade, part of the day’s events ahead of the annual North Carolina Fallen Firefighters Memorial ceremony. Participating fire apparatus–with a couple exceptions–represented departments that have lost one or more members in the line of duty. Plus pipes band and honor guard. Still shots coming. Preview of …
Continue reading ‘Video of Saturday’s Fallen Firefighters Memorial Parade’ »
This Saturday, May 6, 2017, the annual North Carolina Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service will be conducted at Nash Square in downtown Raleigh. The event starts at 1:00 p.m. and will be preceded with a parade at 10:00 a.m., featuring honor guards, pipes and drums, and fire apparatus from across the state, from departments with one …
Continue reading ‘North Carolina Fallen Firefighters Ceremony – May 6, 2017’ »
Belated blog post. On Monday, Central Alexander Fire Department Captain Michael “Bubba” E. Pennell, 49, died after suffering a medical emergency, while on duty at the fire station. He was in the apparatus bay and working on cleaning the vehicles. He was found fallen on the floor, and his fellow firefighters attempted to resuscitate him. …
Continue reading ‘Alexander County Firefighter Dies on Duty’ »
On November 22, 1967, Statesville Fire Captain Lee Roy Horton, 41, was killed in a bomb blast, when his booby-trapped personal vehicle exploded beside Station 2 on Security Drive. This unusual story comes by way of the North Carolina Fallen Firefighters Foundation. They’ve announced this year’s honorees to be added to the state memorial on …
Continue reading ‘Statesville Fire Captain Killed by Bomb Blast, 1967’ »