Looking for major fires in North Carolina fire stations over the years and decades (and centuries).

2014, June 22 – North River-Laurel Road FD at 839 Merrimon Road in Carteret County – Fire started in apparatus bay and destroyed all three trucks and equipment. Believed to have started by 1991 Mack/Ward LaFrance (correct?) pumper/tanker. Bay section of building was destroyed and the rest of the building was damaged. Fire station was rebuilt and completed (by not reopened) in 2015. The department has not resumed operations, however. They’re in contract negotiations with the county. Read blog post.

2005, May 6 – Charlotte Station 8 at 1201 The Plaza – Crews awakened by smoke alarm. Found apparatus bay filled with smoke, started by fire on Engine 8. They contacted dispatch and a structure fire response was dispatched. The station’s personnel assisted arriving firefighters with suppression. Fire contained to apparatus bay. Damages estimated at about $500,00. See narrative and pictures from Mike Porowski. Also Firehouse.com story.

1983, September 28 – Number 3 VFD in Grover – One volunteer member was on duty when explosion shook station at 8:40 a.m. Fire started in the basement. The firefighter pulled the lone truck out of the building, a 1974 pumper. Caused $400,000 in damages. Read blog post.

1966, August 5 – Beaufort City Hall and Fire Station at 410 Broad Street – Starts at 8:30 a.m. when the town’s 1927 American LaFrance pumper explodes. Fire spreads to the 1870 building and is gutted with an estimated $250,000 damage. The other fire trucks are safely removed after the fire started and spread. BFD battled the blaze along with Morehead City, Newport, and Fort Macon Coast Guard fire departments until 11:00 a.m. Read blog post.

1897, April 7 – Victor Fire Company in Raleigh at corner of Salisbury and Davie streets. Nighttime fire starts when lamp on the horse-drawn hose reel explodes. Apparatus and hose destroyed. Two horses killed. Quickly extinguished by nearby Rescue Company. City was already planning to build replacement quarters, so a new station promptly proceeds. Fire company temporarily relocated to a warehouse until new station built at corner of Blount and Hargett streets. Read original newspaper story on page 17 of this PDF historical document.

Others?

The Charlotte story above cites a fire at Station 3 on Monroe Road in the 1980s, or as a reader comment notes, in the mid- or late 1970s. Small or major fire? To be determined.