Looking Closely at the Capital Hose Company, Circa 1902

Alert! Alert!  New old photo found! The North Carolina State Archives recently added this image to their collection. It was cataloged in 2014 and one of a handful of surviving turn-of-the-century images of the Raleigh Fire Department. Call number N. 2014.9.1. It shows the Capital Hose Company competition reel team, circa 1902. They won the …

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Raleigh Fire Facility Updates – Summer 2018

July 28, 2018Summer update on Raleigh Fire Department facility plans. Station 12 is almost ready. Station 14 has started site preparation. Station 6 has resumed work. More renovations are coming. Station 30 is now Station 13. And more.  Click to enlarge: Facility Project Type Project Location Project Notes Sta 1 Replace TBD Programming complete. Site …

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Chapel Hill Fire Station 2 – History of the Original

Chapel Hill’s new Fire Station 2 was dedicated on Saturday. The two-story, 11,246 square-foot engine house was opened in May. See photos. It’s the ten-years-in-the-making result of a public and private partnership between the town, the county, and a private developer.  Built on the site of the original 1959 fire station on Hamilton Road, it …

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The Only Constant is Change

Next week, the Wake County Fire Commission receives presentation from Wake County Fire Services, with a concept for adding a new Garner fire station near Ten Ten Road and Highway 401. Such a facility could provide service to the areas currently served by Fairview Station 2. Whoa. On June 30, Apex EMS ceased operation. Wake …

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Dispositions of Raleigh’s Retired Mini-Pumpers

Raleigh received a pair of new mini-pumpers in February, a pair of 2017 Ford F-550/Knapheide/UPF/Foam Pro 250/250/10 units. Shown on left. They replaced a pair of 1986 Chevy brush trucks, which were retired. Shown on right.  Along with a 2005 Ford F-550/Reading/Slagle, the city’s three mini-pumpers are assigned to and cross-staffed by Squad 7, Squad …

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Fraternity Fires in Chapel Hill – 1909 to 2001

This posting was originally posted on Facebook, on the Chapel Hill Fire Department Retirees & History page. Every part of a community is invariably impacted by fire. And as the clock is turned back, toward simpler times with fewer priorities on life safety and fire prevention, the numbers of destructive blazes invariably rise. Here’s a list …

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Report on Recommended Budgets

The local city and county governments have been releasing their proposed budgets for FY19. Here are some highlights, from around the area… Raleigh – Web Site No added positions New aerial ladder New pumper Funding for long-term staffing study Funding for driver-operator course planning ($200,000) Station 1 project funding, continued ($15.6M) Absent is Station 3 or …

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New Rosenbauer Deliveries for Wake County

Recent new deliveries from Rosenbauer for Wake County. Pics courtesy of C. W. Williams, via their Facebook page. New Tanker – Fuquay-Varina Wow! New custom-cab tanker for Fuquay-Varina Fire Department. First of a new tanker spec for Wake County. 2000 gallons, 500 GPM. Delivered but not in service yet. Wake Forest is/has also received one.   …

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Chapel Hill Town Minutes – 1896 to 1922

Presenting a deep-dive into Chapel Hill FD history, via a transcription of town minutes excerpts [both exact and paraphrased]**, originally recorded in typewritten form. Date of original unknown. Likely compiling all references to fires and fire protection, from the first decades of the town’s governance. Photographed from a copy in the CHFD archives, with optical character …

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Contract for New Chapel Hill Fire House – August 1921

From excerpts of town minutes, as recorded as a nine-page typed document for the fire department.  Aug. 9, 1921 – P.154 Contract for  new Fire House with  J. T.  Squires for  $3,988. 18  X   40  ft. inside. Wall foundation  to  be 21″ thick;  1st story 13″ thick; 2nd  story 8″ thick. 1st floor to  be 4″  …

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