Knightdale’s Future Fire Station 4

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What’s cooking with new fire stations in Wake County? Here’s an update from Knightdale and a design drawing for future Fire Station 4 at 1325 Hodge Road. The ~12,500 square-foot, single-story, three-bay station sits on a four-acre** parcel on the western side of their response district, south of Knightdale Boulevard and west of Interstate 540. Among the features are a 34-foot training tower and individual sleeping quarters for 25 people. Site work is expected to site in the next couple of months. Looks awesome. 

** The site was combined from two parcels, the smaller of which is shown on maps here. The county IMAPS site hasn’t yet reflected the recombination.

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Cary to Install Idle Reduction Technology on Apparatus

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On Thursday, March 10, 2022, the Cary Town Council voted unanimously to spend $324,000 to outfit nine of the town’s fire trucks with idle reduction technology. 

Here’s the complete text of the meeting agenda action item, from this Town of Cary web page.

Town of Cary
Purchase of Fire Truck Idle Reduction Technology

Speaker: Danna Widmar, Assistant Town Manager

Executive Summary: After exploring performance and estimated cost savings, staff recommends installing Idle Reduction Technology (IRT) on nine existing fire apparatus for a total cost of $324,000. The Cary Fire Department anticipates utilizing IRT technology as a transition to a fully electric fleet. IRT is a battery-operated system that provides operational capacity of various equipment while at a call destination. Given current replacement schedule and information available from the manufacturer, this retrofit work on nine existing vehicles will augment a full transition to IRT and electric technologies by FY 2035, with full electric projected by FY 2040.

Recommendation: Staff recommends that Council approve the use of $324,000 of already appropriated general fund dollars for the idle reduction technology retrofits discussed in this staff report.

Continue reading ‘Cary to Install Idle Reduction Technology on Apparatus’ »

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Two Alarms on Olde Station Drive

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Two alarms were struck on Sunday night, March 13, 2022, at 8604 Olde Station Drive in Raleigh. Dispatched 7:13 p.m. Two-story, wood-frame, garden-style apartments, with 16 units and 9,680 square-feet. Built 1990.

One person reported trapped in first-floor unit, and people reported jumping off balconies, as units were en route. Working fire dispatch and EMS response upgraded, due to multiple callers, as units were en route.
Battalion 4 then Engine 4 first-arriving.

Waldo Brown photo via WRAL

Second-alarm requested one minute later by Battalion 4, ~7:18 p.m. Rescue initiated with occupant of first-floor apartment rescued, and transported by EMS. Heavy fire with extension into attic. Interior attack with three (or more) lines, with Ladder 4 deployed for aerial stream.

As supply line to Ladder 4 was being hand-jacked, Engine 4 deployed deck gun, to stop fire spread in second-floor unit/attic area. (Did Ladder 4 also flow?). Crews resumed interior work, to attack remaining burning arras. Ladder 15 and Ladder 23 also deployed, at either end of the building.
Staging on Forum Drive. Crews also performed evacuations of units in the building.

Controlled 7:48 p.m. Twelve people displaced, from radio traffic. One resident transported, who later died at the hospital. At least two other residents injured, plus two firefighters treated on scene for burn injuries. Cause determined as unspecified electrical failure.

First alarm: E4, E18, E15, E22, E16 (added?), L4 (on reserve), L15, R16, B4, B5, SO14
Plus: E16, added
Working fire: DC1, INV1, A28
Second alarm: E9, E23, E29, L23, L6, B3, Professional Development Chief
Plus: Safety Chief
Medical
EMS10, EMS14, EMS33, EMS34, EMS61, EMS64, M93, D3, D4, T1 (didn’t respond?)

Photos by Google (top left), Marcus Gray on Twitter from video (right), Legeros (bottom)

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Two Alarms on New Bern Avenue

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Two alarms were struck on Sunday, February 28, at a house fire at 528 New Bern Avenue. Dispatched 6:57 p.m. Two-story, single-family dwelling with 1,422 square-feet. Built 1925, with both attic and basement space. Subject reported inside structure, later found outside building, in rear. Engine 1 first arriving, did not catch a hydrant. Engine 13 established water supply.

Heavy smoke conditions inside, as well as difficult maneuvering due to contents of rooms, made finding the seat(s) of the fire difficult. Crews later withdrawn as heavy fire conditions presented (and vented through roof?). Exterior operations started, including portable monitor(s) deployed to protect exposure on west side. (The second home also suffered some fire damage.)

Two aerials deployed, Ladder 1 in front of structure, Ladder 12 in rear. (Supplied by Engine 2, from hydrant caught in front of Station 3.) Second-alarm struck for manpower. Believe also third-alarm level for EMS struck. Staging was parking lot at SE corner of New Bern and East, beside Station 3. (They were on a service call, at the time of the first alarm.) Don’t believe either flowed any water.

Controlled 8:54 p.m. Cause determined as accidental, started by space heater in bedroom. No injuries. Google for news reports.

Run card included (first alarm) E13, E1, Sq7, E5, L1, L6, R16, B2, B5, SO14, (working fire) DC1, INV1, A10, (second alarm) E3, E2, E12, L12, L20, B3, (plus) Safety Chief, (medical) EMS40, EMS62, EMS68, EMS70, EMS71, EMS73, EMS78, M94, M96, D1, D7, D9, T1.

See photos by Legeros.

Watch video footage by Legeros.

Listen to recording of radio traffic. 

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Huntersville Fire History

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Would you believe a cab-mounted hose basket? Here’s the coolest vintage truck pic that we’ve seen in a while. Was a 1936 Chevy truck conversions in Huntersville, NC, in Mecklenburg County. Below is a timeline of the department’s history and a few more photos. They’re from Brent Irvin, son of former Fire Chief Larry Irvin, and grandson of former Fire Chief Allen Irvin, via this Facebook thread. 

Historical Timeline

  • 1923 – Department organized after town installed municipal water system. Hose cabinets and hydrants were located along Main Street.
  • 1927 – Town buys American LaFrance combination hose and chemical truck. Source: Charlotte Observer, Jan 13, 1929.
  • 1927 – Advertisement promoting the town to businesses and industry on May 31, 1927, in Charlotte Observer, notes “Huntersville offers fire protection, in connection with the establishment of their water system. Reduced insurance rates will result from this in the near future, as well as protection to the mill villages, in connection with the mills.”
  • 1929 – Suit filed in county court, that town hadn’t yet paid the outstanding balance of the fire truck, $1,310, and proceedings were started to repossess the truck. [Then what happened? TBD] Source: Charlotte Observer, Jan 13, 1929.
  • 1936 – Town acquires first fire truck, a 1936 Chevrolet with an “air-pressurized water tank,” and, thus, wasn’t classified as a Class A pumper. [Bought new that year? Or created in 1942, see below.]
  • 1942 – Department re-organized, with a fire truck built by the “boys in Agriculture” using the chassis “of the town truck” and adding a fire truck body that had been in storage for a number of years. [ Was this the origin of the 1936 Chevy? ] Source: Charlotte Observer, Jan 25, 1942. 
  • 1942 – Joined the North Carolina State Firemen’s Association, by summer of that year. Source: Secretary report in 1942 proceedings.
  • 1953 – Town buys its first Class A pumper, a Chevrolet/Howe. By that time, the department was housed in the Town Hall building, which included a two-bay fire station.
  • 1955 – Department refrains from signing contract with county, to receive $100 monthly “standby fee.” Mayor informed by Attorney General that the contract requires the department to answer calls anywhere in county. And if the HFD truck should go more than 11 miles from the town limits, and a fire started in town, then the town could be sued. Mayor says town will conduct fundraising campaign to raise money for the volunteer fire department. Source: Charlotte Observer: Feb 10, 1955. 
  • 1956 – First pumper-tanker added, 1953 Ford F-800/Wilson Irons Work/Irvin’s Body Shop pumper-tanker, 500/1500. Enables HVFD to respond outside of city limits, as well as serve existing town residents. At least half of the town’s residents were not served by existing fire hydrants, notes news story. Addition of second truck will meet and exceed the requirements for membership in the Mecklenburg County Firemen’s Association. One truck to remain in town at all times. Both trucks equipped with two-way radios. New cab and chassis received by January 25. Installation of pump and tank to be completed within next 45 days, said Mayor. Overall cost of truck was approximately $5,000. Source: Charlotte Observer, January 25, 1956.
  • 1956 – Rural service started. Operational by June 1956. 
  • 1963 – New rural engine added, 1963 Ford F-700/Wilson Irons Work/Irvin’s Body Shop, 500/500.  
  • 1967 – Second station opens, which later becomes the separate Gilead VFD.
  • 1970 – Department incorporated. Source: NC corporate records.
  • 1971 – New rural engine added, Ford 1972 F-700/Wilson Irons Work/Irvin’s Body Shop, 750/1000. Bought by HVFD.
    Note: From the 1950s through the 1970s, all HVFD and GVFD Ford F-700 trucks and brush truck conversions were built by Wilson Iron Works and Irvin’s Body Shop.
  • 1981 – First ladder truck, 1949 American LaFrance mid-mount, former Charlotte Ladder 4. Bought by HVFD.  
  • 1983 – New “town truck” added, 1982 Ford F-800/American, 1000/1000, with front-mounted pump. This was the last town-purchased piece of apparatus. Going forward, department bought all apparatus and equipment.
  • 1983 – The 1963 Ford F-700 pumper is converted to a tanker by Irvin’s Body Shop, renamed Tanker 5 and expanded to carry 1250 gallons of water. 
  • 1988 – Ladder truck refurbished. 
  • 1989 – Town Hall and water department relocates from shared building, and fire department takes over the entire building. Third apparatus bay added. 
  • 1993? – First custom-cab apparatus added, 1993 Spartan/Quality, 2000/1000. 
  • 1994 – New fire station opens. 
  • 1998 – First custom-built ladder truck, 1998 Spartan Gladiator/Marion/AI, 1500/300/30A/75-feet.
  • 2010 – Gilead VFD merges in May with Huntersville VFD to create Huntersville FD.
  • 2010 – HFD Station 3 opens in October, and placed in service with donated equipment from Mallard Creek VFD, which ceased operations in 2011.
  • 2018 – Station 4 opens in April. 

Sources

More Photos

Huntersville Fire Department circa mid-1950s. Courtesy Brent Irvin. 


Huntersville Fire Department circa mid-1950s. Courtesy Brent Irvin. 

Top to bottom, left to right: 1953 Ford F-800/Wilson Irons Work/Irvin’s Body Shop; 1963  Ford F-700/Wilson Irons Work/Irvin’s Body Shop; Gilead VFD in early 1970s; 1993 Spartan/Quality. Courtesy Brent Irvin. 

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Visual History of Mecklenburg County Fire Departments

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New history chart. Mecklenburg County fire departments, past ‘n’ present. 

View as JPG (3.3M) or PDF. See also other charts. 

Sources:

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Mecklenburg County Map, 1959

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You’ve seen this map before of Mecklenburg County fire districts in 1959, created by the county firemen’s association. William Kennedy re-created a digital version, using GIS. He posted as a comment in this Facebook posting of ours. Click to enlarge.

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Early History of Wilkinson Boulevard Fire Department

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Wilkinson Boulevard was the first rural fire department in Mecklenburg County, and one of the first rural departments in North Carolina. Its early history is recounted in a 1951 newspaper feature and a 1948 souvenir booklet.

Newspaper Feature, 1951

On May 22, 1951, the Charlotte Observer featured a full-page profile of the county’s then-five rural fire departments:

Souvenir Booklet, 1948

In 1948, the Wilkinson Boulevard Fire Department of Mecklenburg County published a small souvenir booklet. It contained a history of the department, which was the first rural fire department in the county. The early milestones included:

  • 1943, May 1 – Two house on Gary Street are destroyed by fire. They’re less than a mile outside the city limits.
  • Shortly after that incident, an eight-inch water main is completed through the area. 
  • A community committee is formed, and get fire hydrants installed.
  • A fire department is formed and officers are elected. They obtain hose, nozzles, and a hydrant. 
  • Though operational, organizational issues such as liability and membership fees result in nearly all members losing interest.
  • 1946, fall – Interest is restarted in the fire department.
  • 1947, January – New officers are elected and a hose trailer will be purchased that can be pulled by cars. A small hose house is erected at the corner of Crestwood and Wilkinson. And a 1941 Army Holabird pumper is purchased from war surplus, after a fundraiser.
  • A legislative bill is passed giving the county the power to hold elections in a fire district, and tax residents for monies for use in the fire district. 
  • WBFD is incorporated with the state. And a new station is built on a lot at 2925 Wilkinson Boulevard. 
  • 1948, January – After a fire on Remount Road, members realized that a tanker is They buy a 1948 Ford truck and add a 1000 gallon tank and a 500 GPM pump. 

Read the booklet (PDF, 3MB), which is transcribed below:

Continue reading ‘Early History of Wilkinson Boulevard Fire Department’ »

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Excelsior Fire Companies

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How many black volunteer fire companies named Excelsior served in our state, back in the day? It appears just three. Shown are Durham (top), Greensboro (middle), and Rocky Mount (bottom). See below for details.

Companies

Durham
Excelsior Hook and Ladder Company
Housed at 201 Pine Street, now South Roxboro Street
Served from mid-1880s to 1909

Greensboro
Excelsior Hook and Ladder Company
Excelsior Hose Company No. 2
Housed at [goes here]
Served from 1887 to 1926?
Need more information. Were there two companies? Or one, but it either evolved from H&L to hose reel, or staffed two types of apparatus? And did they operate all the way until the implementation of the paid FD in 1926? TBD.

Rocky Mount
Excelsior Hook and Ladder Company
Housed in 100 block of E. Thomas Street
Served from 1896 to 1914

Sources

Early Black Firefighters of North Carolina, Annotated – Research by the late Chuck Milligan
https://www.legeros.com/history/ebf/

Greensboro FD history book, 1990
https://legeros.com/history/library/departments

Professional Firefighters of Durham – Facebook posting on February 20, 2022
https://www.facebook.com/BullCitysBravest/posts/2812707499036584

Photo Credits

Top – DFD FD on FB, February 11, 2021 –
Anyone have a high-res version of that image, by the way?
https://www.facebook.com/DurhamFireDepartment/posts/10158472601136339

Middle – Greensboro City Museum, from Legeros files

Bottom – RMFD history book, 1996, scanned from pages. https://www.legeros.com/history/library/departments/

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