Wilmington Fireman Killed by Falling Wall – 1893

On June 17, 1893, Wilmington volunteer fireman Joseph Ballister Willard died in the line of duty. He was a member of Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, and was killed when a wall collapsed at a warehouse fire. The fire started at 2:00 a.m. at a brick warehouse on Water Street, which stored about 400 …

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North Carolina Fallen Firefighters Ceremony – May 4, 2019

We’re ten days away from this year’s NCFFF memorial service. Here are details and the list of this year’s honored. LODD information via Google.  The North Carolina Fallen Firefighters Foundation will honor seven firefighters who died in the line of duty in the past year, plus one who passed away in 2014. The 14th annual …

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Durham Fire Chief Dies – November 1946

Found this while doing other research last week. We first discussed on the Facebook side. Memo to self: add to fallen firefighters database. On November 26, 1946, Durham Fire Chief Frank W. Bennett died at Watts Hospital. His death was duty-related. Chief Bennett became ill on November 6, while supervising a fire at the Durham Mattress …

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Tarboro Fireman Dies From Illness After Fire – 1899

Note: This is a version of a posting from Legeros Fire Line on Facebook. See that posting for reader comments and discussion. Found a reference to a Tarboro Fire Department firefighter fatality, and apparently duty-related. From the Proceedings of the North Carolina State Firemen’s Convention in 1899, page 26, from the Secretary’s Report: “Death has …

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Warsaw Fire Chief Killed on Duty – December 31, 1949

Here’s the front page of the Duplin Times from January 5, 1950, which includes a story on the death of Warsaw Fire Dept Fire Chief Stacy H. Britt, 38, who died in the line of duty in an apparatus collision on December 31, 1949. You can read the entire issue at this digital North Carolina …

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Locating a Line of Duty Death – Cary, 1960

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 …

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North Carolina Fallen Firefighters to be Honored at National Memorial – October 7, 2018

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 …

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Four Shelby Firefighters Killed in Explosion, May 25, 1979

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 …

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Burke County Firefighter Struck, Killed While Clearing Debris

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 …

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