The Charlotte Fire Department has released an after-action report on the Liberty Row Fire (AKA South Park Fire) on May 18, 2023. The five-alarm commercial structure fire was one of the city’s largest in recent history.
Read the 96-page document (PDF)
Listen to radio traffic from the fire (YouTube)
Five alarms in Charlotte on May 18, 2023 (blog post)
Comparing Charlotte’s SouthPark and Raleigh’s Metropolitan Fires (blog post)
Here’s one we’ve been waiting for. Presenting a delivery list of over 330 rigs built by Emergency Equipment Incorporated (EEI) of Raleigh
This list was compiled over many, many years by Jon Umdenstock of Durham. And he welcomes inputs and corrections, just send him an email.
Learn more about EEI and its predecessors Atlas and Alexander.
See photos and discussions on these trucks in this Facebook group.
News from Wayne County. Effective September 1, 2024, Polly Watson Fire Department merged into Nahunta Fire Department. There are now two NFD stations, the main station (Nahunta) on Nahunta Road and a satellite station (Polly Waston) on Highway 581. The departments share 114 years of combined history, organized in 1958 and 1976 respectively.
Durham Highway Fire Department photo
Listen to radio traffic | See photos by Legeros | See aerial video of aftermath
Three alarms were struck on Friday afternoon, August 30, 2024, at 7604 Silver View Lane, just off Pinecrest Road, after lightning struck a home and started a fire that spread to the homes on either side of the residence. It occurred during a period of severe weather than saw numerous other weather-related calls, including other working fires.[1]
Ladder 23 (on reserve) was first-arriving at the two-story, single-family dwelling with 2,955 square-feet. Built 2003, from tax records. Heavy fire showing on arrival. Second, then third alarms were struck, as a second and third home caught on fire.
Durham Highway Engine 2 was early-arriving (second due?) and used their deck gun for exterior attack on the first fire building. Crews also took lines inside, until all companies were withdrawn for aerial operations.
Courtesy of Stephanie Bartsch, from this community fundraiser for the impacted families
Ladder 23 and Ladder 4 operated from Silver View Lane. Ladder 15 and Ladder 6 operated on Pinecrest Road. Four+ hydrants were caught on both roads, to supply the pumpers and ladders.
Access for hand lines from Pinecrest Road to the rear of the houses was restricted by a block-long iron fence and drop off. One section was later sawed and a ground ladder was laid.
Dispatched about 2:15 p.m. Controlled 3:54 p.m. With extended overhaul as crews located and extinguished hot spots. No injuries were reported. Six people were displaced.
[1] During a three-hour period that afternoon, during the severe weather, the Raleigh Fire Department responded to:
Source: https://x.com/RaleighNCFire/status/1829909902875333112
Legeros photos
Radio Traffic
Run Card
Also on scene:
DHFD Car 1
RFD PIO
RFD Chaplain
RFD Logistics Chief
EMS44
EMS51
Medic 94
District 5
Aftermath
Legeros photo
This is an ongoing blog posting about relocating Raleigh Fire Station 1. See also the official project site.
Contents
August 2024 – Design Services Award
On August 20, 2024, City Council approved a consent agenda that included the formal bid award for design services for new Station 1.
View agenda item that includes one PDF attachment.
February 2024 – Site Selected, Project Restarted
On February 29, 2024, an RFQ was issued for design services. By that time, the project had also been restarted, with the scope of work expanded to include a back-up emergency communications center in the new facility. The project budget had also been increased to $72M. The site location was also changed, and was originally planned for a city-owned parcel near the Raleigh Convention Center.
The multi-story facility is planned to include 50,000 square-feet and five apparatus bays. The site is a city-owned, two-acre parent on the northwest corner of South Salisbury Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway. The site is also catty corner from old Fire Station 2, which was located in the rear of the performing arts center originally named Memorial Auditorium.
Fire Station 1 is currently located at 220 S. Dawson Street and opened in 1953. It has two stories, three bays, and 11,200 square-feet. Its two prior locations were 412 S. Salisbury Street at Old Station 2 (1941-53) (built 1914) and the original Headquarters Fire Station at 112 Morgan Street (1912-41). The latter was erected in 1896, for the city’s volunteer fire companies. It opened as Station 1 in 1912, with the creation of the current career organization.
Headquarters is currently located in the Dillon Building at 310 W. Martin Street. It comprises the Office of the Fire Chief, Office of the Fire Marshal, Office of Safety and Compliance, administrative staff of the Operations Division, and other staff.
The Martin Street space was occupied in 1994. Prior locations for fire administrative offices have included:
The fire department also utilizes office space at the Emergency Communications Center at 2320 Westinghouse Boulevard, for the Emergency Management Division and other staff.
May 2020 – Project on Hold
Around May 30, 2020, the official project site was updated and noted that the project was on hold indefinitely.
November 2019 – Conceptual Rendering Continue reading ‘Relocating Fire Station 1 – Design Services Awarded’ »
This is a blog version of a Facebook posting from August 20, 2024.
Groundbreaking for new Rocky Mount Fire Station 2 was held on Monday, August 26, 2024. It will replace a 1977 engine house that is located on the same site, at the corner of West Raleigh Boulevard and South Grace Street.
The new station will cost $11M+ and face West Raleigh Boulevard, not Grace Street. Program specifications include:
Continue reading ‘New Rocky Mount Station 2’ »
This posting is occasionally updated with new information. Last updated October 27, 2024. Added color photo of the museum at Tweetsie.
Note: See also these two active Facebook threads: Legeros Fire Line and SPAAMFAA (private group)
Watauga Democrat, May 28, 1959.
In May 1959, the fire equipment and fire apparatus collection of Vincent K. O’Meara of Hialeah, FL, was moved to the Tweetsie Railroad attraction in Blowing Rock, NC. The collection had previously been displayed at his Hialeah Fire Museum at 1022 E. 27th Street.
The extensive collection of artifacts also included 30 pieces of apparatus, with the oldest dating to 1792. O’Meara’s collection also included thousand of pieces of related fire equipment and what the local newspaper called the largest “fire protection library” in the southeast.
Among the displayed apparatus was Greensboro’s 1904 American LaFrance steam engine, reg #496. Originally acquired by a private owner in Winston-Salem, it was sold to Vincent K. O’Meara of Hialeah, FL, in August of 1951. See prior posting about the steamer.
Miami News, May 18, 1959
About the Apparatus Continue reading ‘Fire Museum Moves to Blowing Rock, 1959’ »
This posting presents ongoing research notes about the early history of the Elizabeth City Fire Department.
1820s to 1870s
1827 – Phoenix Fire Company in operation, meeting notice in newspaper. [ECS/NCEI, 3/17/27]
1835 – Phoenix FC monthly meeting notice in newspaper. Notes that their charter, created five years ago, has expired and a new company must be re-organized. [HOTT, 1/27/35]
1850 – Fire company has recently procured hose for their engine, and now seek a reel to wind the hose. [ONS, 4/12/51]
1850, Oct – Meeting at courthouse to form a fire company. [ONS, 10/5/50]
1850, Oct – Meeting was held at courthouse on Wednesday and the Albemarle Engine Company was formed, with President L. D. Starke, Vice President Dr. R. K. Speed, Secretary W. J. Kellinger, Treasurer J. M. Matthews, Chief Engineer W. H. Clark, and Asst. Engineer A. W. Stark elected. [DP, 10/29/50]
1857 – Newspaper editorial laments insufficient protection from fire, including “an efficient engine” that is “wanting.” [DP, 3/10/57]
1858, Mar 30 – Town officials take steps toward buying new engine and hose, and forming two fire [engine] companies and one hook and ladder company. [DP, 3/30/58]
1858, May – Editorial, happy that town officials have “at last determined to purchase two fire engines.” [DP, 5/17/59]
1859, May – Mr. W. H. Clark has purchased two “handsome” fire engines and some five hundred yards of hose, will be delivered in a few days. [DP, 5/24/59]
1859, June – New fire engines delivered Tuesday before June 7, 1859. They were tested the next day. They are named Fashion and United. [DP, 6/7/59]
1859, June – Meeting notice for United Fire Company. [DP, 6/28/59]
1873 – Citation for year Albemarle FC was organized, as cited in 1915 newspaper. [Advance, 6/25/15]
1880s and 1890s Continue reading ‘Elizabeth City Fire Department Early History’ »
Research notes on Winston-Salem’s fire police program (1957-1973) and public safety officer program (1973-1987)
See source materials via Google Drive
Fire Police
1956, Jul – City Manager sent 10-page memo to Board of Alderman, with detailed reasons to try a fire-police “safety patrol” on a “limited, experimental basis.” [WSJ, 7/10/56]
1957, Jan 30 – City Manager recommended established “combined fire-and-police patrol” at the new Station 8. Recommendation to be considered by city alderman’s Public Safety Committee. [WSS, 1/30/57]
1957, Apr – Nine volunteers from the fire department began first phase of training as “fire-police patrolmen.” They started classes at 8:00 a.m. at the “Police Pistol Club” and the training lasted four weeks. Subjects included “City ordinances, North Carolina laws, methods of arrest, self protection, arms instruction, police courtesy, and court testimony procedure.” After their training, they will have a month of on-the-job training as police officers. [WSJ, 4/11/57]
1957, May – Names of personnel assigned to new Station 8 and those assigned to fire-police patrol were announced. [WSS, 5/16/57]
1957, Sep 2 – Fire-police patrol placed in service with a 1957 Chevrolet station wagon. Housed at Station 7 until its permanent quarters at Station 8 were completed. [WSJ, 10/13/57]
1957, Oct 13 – Fire police patrol had been operating for a month, and logged more than 1,000 hours of “watchful scouting.” The unit was moving into new Station 8 that week. [WSJ, 10/13/57]
1957, Oct 30 – Fire police car involved in collision with a second vehicle, while chasing a speeder on Reynolda Road at 10:30 p.m. No injures. The speeder “got away.” There was slight damage to the patrol car. [WSJ, 10/31/57]
Continue reading ‘Winston Salem’s Fire Police and Public Safety Officers’ »
This posting was last updated in July 2024, with added history of county rural fire protection before 1951.
Introduction
This posting originated as a Facebook posting in August 2020.
Before 1951 – Part 1
In June 1945, county commissioners appointed George Sheek as Forsyth County Fire Chief. He was notably placed in charge of a rural fire protection program that had installed 17 wheeled chemical engines on the grounds of county schools. < Another was later added at the county farm.
Though housed on county property, the chemical engines were intended for use by rural residents and school employees alike. Each carried 40-gallons of dry chemical plus 100 feet of each. Each weighed 1,110 pounds and could be pulled by a car as fast as 60 miles an hour [!].
By January 1949, Sheek reported that the chemical engines had saved $300,000 worth of insured property over the years. However, in many cases, rural residents had not used the units. He was also aware of the “failure of communication” about the program and despite such attempts at holding community meetings. (“In some places, not a single person turned up.”)
He was also skeptical of the ability to create a “motorized county fire department,” due to (a.) poor roads, (b.) poor telephone system, and (c.) lack of a water supply. Those barriers were soon overcome, however, when Forsyth County FD was created in 1951, as well as the first community fire departments during that time.
The chemical engine initiative spurred some communities to augment the program, such as the Waltertown Lions Club, which bought a second unit. What happened to all those chemical engines and their wee “engine houses” at the schools? To be determined!
Before 1951 – Part 2
Smith Reynolds Airport received new Army Air Force fire and crash truck. Was stationed permanently at the airport and overseen by Fire Chief Sharon Aungst of the First Army Air Force Servicing Department. Was equipped with Foamite, carbon dioxide, and carbon tetrachloride extinguishers, plus 300 feet of hose to be used with water. Plus “various kinds of knives and axes” to access a crashed plane, as well as a “special kind of hook” used to “turn a burning plane” so flames “will not sweep toward” a trapped pilot. [WSJ, 3/9/43]
1951 Continue reading ‘Forsyth County Fire Department History’ »