Early History of the Louisburg Fire Department

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This posting presents research notes on the early history of the Louisburg Fire Department in Franklin County, NC. It supplements the research of Al Peoples and Larry Peoples as presented in their 2012 book The Louisburg Fire Department: A History.

1876, Mar 03 – Franklin Courier

A Suggestion. — Several times lately we have felt the need of some organization, for the better protection of our property against fire. At present we are depended entirely on an unorganized, unfurnished, excited crowd, who in their wild frenzy, when the alarm bell rings, have nothing with which to contend with the devouring elements.

An engine, with our poor facilities for managing it, would be impracticable, and to sink reservoirs would involve an expense too heavy besides be a heavy tax to keep in repair. What then is best? We suggest that several public wells be dug, which are much needed for the citizens anyway, and that a number of Gutta Percha buckets say thirty or forty, and several sliding ladders and long handle hooks be purchased either by the citizens or the town authorities, and also a number of small force pumps, with this defence, we think that our property will be much more secure, than if we go to the expense of purchasing an engine and hose. We throw out these suggestions, hoping that the citizens will meet and consider them, or others if in their judgment they may think best. But we do think that some step ought to be taken, and that without delay for a better protection against fire, and we hope the matter will not be postponed, but action will be taken and at once. Let us have buckets, ladders, hooks and hand pumps, and organize a hook and ladder company.
 
1893, September – Sanborn Maps

Population 900.
No Steam & No Hand Engines
No Independent Hose Carts
Water Facilities: Not Good.

1893, Nov 2 – Franklin Times

Very Important

It is very important that all towns should have some kind of equipments for putting out fires, and strange to say, that although Louisburg has very often experienced the great want of something of the kind, yet the town has no organized fire department whatever, and whenever a fire occurs the only dependance is wooden buckets. We are led to this subject at this time by the following from the Charlotte Observer:

It seems almost remarkable that so many small towns should go on indefinitely, absolutely without protection of any sort against fire. In almost every case where a small town is swept away by fire, the news is accompanied by the report that the fire when first discovered could have been put out with one bucket of water. The equipment usually put up by a railroad company to furnish water to locomotives would in most cases save a small town. This equipment is a tank that will hold about fifty thousand gallons of water and a small steam pump and boiler to fill it. The whole outfit can be put up for $2,500 to $3,000 and the hose necessary to reach most of the stores in small towns would not cost over $1,000. Inside of five thousand dollars expended would make a fair fire protection for thousands of small towns that are now absolutely at the mercy of the flames.

1893, Nov 3 – Franklin Times

Fire District.

At a recent meeting of the commissioners of the Town of Louisburg, the ordinance in regard to the fire district was amended to read as follows:

Ordinance 12. The following shall be the fire limits of the town of Louisburg, viz: Within 200 feet of that part of Main street lying between Tar River bridge and the residence now occupied by O. H. Harris, within 200 feet of Nash street between Spring street and the ditch near the Franklin warehouse; within 200 feet of Court street; within 200 feet of Market street, and within said limits no wooden building shall be built or placed, nor any material used in the construction of the outside walls except stone, brick or cement; nor shall any building within said limits be covered or recovered with any wooden material.

By order of the Board,
J. A. Thomas, Mayor.
Geo. S. Baker, Clerk.

1896, Feb 7 – Franklin Times

Let us have the fire company. Also the hook and ladder company.

1896, April 3 – Franklin Times

What will the town fathers do about a fire department? Shall we have it, or shall we continue to take the risk with water buckets?

1898, Feb 18 – Franklin Times

At last our town authorities are taking steps toward furnishing some kind of apparatus to fight fire. R. G. Hart, one of our Commissioners, went to Greensboro this week to inspect a “truck” which the fire department of that city offered our town at a very reasonable price. Our GREATEST need is water works, but we commend this step on the part of our “city fathers” to “do something” in this direction. A hook and ladder and bucket company will be a great help when fires break out, and when the Legislature meets the authorities can then get the necessary legislation to furnish the town with a sufficient water supply.

1898, March – Sanborn Maps

Population 1,500
No Steam & No Hand Engines
No Independent Hose Carts; 1 H. & L. Truck with 4 Chem’l Ext’g’s
Water Facilities: Not Good.

1898, March 23 – Franklin Times

The town authorities have purchased a hook and ladder truck from the town of Greensboro, and it will arrive in a few days. It was bought at a great bargain, and the Times commends the Commissioners for taking steps toward the establishment of some kind of system to aid in extinguishing fire. Now for water works. A small hand engine would be a good investment until the water works is established.

1898, May 23 – Greensboro Evening Telegram

Chief J. J. Stone went to Louisburg this morning to formally deliver the hook and ladder truck purchased from Greensboro by the Louisburg fire department.

1898, Jun 10 – Franklin Times

ANNUAL STATEMENT
—
OF THE TREASURER OF THE TOWN OF LOUISBURG FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 1ST MONDAY IN JUNE 1898.
—
GENERAL PURPOSE FUND.
—
DISBURSEMENTS

paid Hook & Ladder Wagon 350.00

1904, February – Sanborn Maps

Population 1,500
Prevailing Winds S.W. in Winter.
Water Facilities: None.
No Steam & No Hand Engine
No Independent Hose Cart
No Hook & Ladder Truck

Note.
Streets: Piked.
Streets Lighted by Oil.
One Night Watchman.
Fire Alarm Court Ho. Bell & All Church Bells.

1905, Oct 20 – Franklin Times

A Fire Department was created and Wm. Bailey was unanimously elected Chief of said department.

[ This action occurred a special meeting of the town board on Monday night that was called for the purpose of accepting the newly completed waterworks and sewerage plant. ]

1906, Feb 2 – Franklin Times

The Times is requested by S. C. Ford, Foreman of the Fire Department, to announce that there will be a meeting of the fire company on next Monday night, and it is desired that every member be present. The meeting will be held in the new quarters—third floor of Fire Department building.

1906, Feb 2 – Franklin Times

The new house for the Fire Department, located at the foot of Market street, is nearing completion, and it presents a very neat appearance. It is three stories, including the basement. The basement will be used for the street team and implements, while the hose wagon and horses will occupy the second floor, and the third story will be fitted up for a bed room and a meeting place for the fire department.

1906, Oct 12 – Franklin Times

The new hose wagon for the Louisburg Fire Company arrived this week, and is a beauty. It was built by J. W. Evans, of Raleigh, and is all hand made. It cost $300.

1907, Aug 09 – Franklin Times

Fireman’s Tournament.

The Louisburg Fire Department was well represented in the Fireman’s Tournament which was held at Wilmington this week. The following attended: S. P. Boddie, J. A. Turner, D. C. High, D. G. Pearce, M. S. Davis, S. B. Nash, W. J. Cooper, Ailen Harris, J. J. Lancaster.

They took the horse and wagon with them.

The boys were heard from yesterday and they write that they are having the time of their life. The horse and wagon are greatly admired and were given a prominent place in the large parade. There are about one thousand firemen in attendance. All the old officers were re-elected.

1907, Sep 20 – Franklin Times

The town has made a move toward a more efficient fire department. Mr. John Payne has been employed to stay on duty day and night to respond to alarms and get out the hose wagon. One of the rooms on the second floor of the Harris law building has been rented for his use and fitted up with gong and telephones. He will have charge of the horse.
—
A fire alarm on Monday night, a few minutes before twelve o’clock was caused by the burning of the shelter over the furnace of the Louisburg Foundry. The fire department responded promptly, but the distance from the nearest hydrant being too far for the hose to reach the fire the wagon had to return to the fire house to get more hose. This was done very quickly, the fire was however, under control with buckets. The amount of damage was small.

1908, March – Sanborn Maps

Water Facilities
Works constructed 1906 & owned by town. Supply taken from Tar River & pumped to reservoir & stand pipe by Worthington pump, capacity 1000 per minute through an 8″ pipe. Town supplied from stand pipe through 10″ mains. Stand pipe 75 miles. Not of a 120′ above Post Office. Capacity of stand pipe 30,000 gallons & reservoir 100,000 gallons. 42 miles of pipe from 4″ to 6″ in diameter. 35 hydrants. Pressure at Post Office about 62 lbs. Average daily consumption about 10,000 gallons.

Fire Dept.
35 volunteers, 2 paid & 1 permanent man. 1 horse.
One Independent hose cart. 1500′ 2½” hose in good condition. Fire alarm Court Ho. & church bells.
Streets Piked. Streets lighted by Electricity.
One night watchman.

 

1908, May 31 – Fire Department Statistics for the Year Ending May 31, 1908

From the proceedings of the North Carolina State Fireman’s Association meeting held at Wilmington, N.C., on June 16-19, 1908.

Louisburg
Population – 2,500
Assessed Value of Property – 800,000
Annual Cost of Fire Dep’t – 600
System or Water Supply – water works
Are Water Works Owned by City? – yes
Number of Hydrants – 35
Number of Hose Carts – 1
Number of Hose Companies – 2
Number of Feet of Hose – 1000
Number of Paid Men – 2
Number of Volunteers – 25

More Photos

Picture of a picture displayed at the Louisburg Fire, Police, and Rescue Squad museum


Caption forthcoming

Sources

Sources include:

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Watauga County Ambulance and Rescue Squad History

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This is a blog version of a Facebook posting from December 22, 2025.

Research notes on the history of rescue and EMS services in Boone, Blowing Rock, and the surrounding communities of Watauga County.  

Watauga County Emergency Rescue Squad, Inc.

  • Organized 1961. Incorporated 1963.
  • Today named Watauga County Rescue Squad
  • Created after John Kirk, a “popular dean of men” at Appalachian State University, and his son Steve drowned in Watauga Lake in the summer of 1961. This compelled a group of citizens to meet at a restaurant operated by John Kirk’s father Zeb to “organize the unit.”
  • There were 35 charter members at the organizational meeting. Members of the Carter County (TN) Rescue Squad met with them a couple times, to help them get organized. Local businesses and civic organizations donated equipment for the squad. Their first truck was a 1955 Chevy panel truck, donated by Zeb Kirk. The squad purchased a second, new panel truck that was “fully equipped with stretchers, beds, resuscitators” and other equipment.
  • By March 1, 1962, they had answered 40 emergency calls, such as “fires, drownings, snowbound victims, and searching for lost or missing persons.” [WD, 3/1/62]
  • TBD on their history of emergency patient transport services. By December 1968, they had at least one ambulance on the roster, from newspaper citations. [HDR, 12/9/68]

Watauga Ambulance Service

  • Started operation April 1, 1968. The private firm was owned and operated by Everette Greene and Edsel Jackson, both of Boone. The new service operated 24/7. They charged $15 per call within the city limits, plus 50 cents per mile “into the country.” With “longer trips” prorated. [HDR, 4/1/68]
  • Owner Jackson was also a driver and was injured in an ambulance crash in December 1968, from a news report. He broke his shoulder and suffered internal injuries when they were struck on Highway 421 five miles west of Boone by a 1969 yellow VW that “kept going.” [HDR, 12/9/68]
  • In 1975, Tim Wilson took over from Jackson as the owner. Wilson was the son of a former county commissioner. Wilson also ran for and held some public offices.
  • Company was named WAS in July 1981, when it was the lone bidder for the county ambulance service contract. [WSJ, 7/8/81]
  • In April 1988, the company was housed in the county-owned Vance Building on Depot Street. They soon moved to the former American Wicker and Wood Co. building, which the county bought in November. [WSJ, 4/5/88]
  • 1995, April – County officials approved upgraded training for emergency personnel. Currently, they were trained as EMT-Intermediate. Within two years, only paramedics would be staffing ambulances. This was approved at time the county renewed their contract, with a term of five years, with an option to continue for two more years. The county’s current annual appropriation was $417,000, and will be increased by 9 percent for FY96-97, and 10 percent increases for the next four years. [WSJ, 4/20/95]
  • In February 1996, the county approved the company’s request for about $21,000 for a second ambulance station, to improve response times to Blowing Rock and other parts of the county. [WSJ, 2/6/86]
  • 1996, Oct 6 – Flash fire burned EMT Gary Taylor, when an oxygen tank exploded while he was administering oxygen to a patient. He was helping a man who was having trouble breathing at Greenway Trailer Park near US 421 in Boone. The incident occurred about 6:00 a.m. Taylor suffered first- and second-degree burns to his face and hands and temporary blindness. He also suffered some hearing loss in one ear. He was transported to Watauga Medical Center and then to the burn unit at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill. The accident was caused when a regulator value “blew off the tank.” [WSJ, 10/6/96]
  • The company “held the contract” for EMS services in the county from 1975 to 1999. Reported the Hickory Daily Record on April 21, 2000, two newly elected county officials in November 1998 questioned why the county never “regularly put the ambulance service out to bid.”
  • The owner later sued the county in April 2000, claiming that “constant scrutiny and harassment by county commissioners injured his business and reputation.” This followed a long-running dispute with the county and company over operational/billing issues.

Blowing Rock Rescue Squad, Inc.

  • Started operation July 30, 1974. Organizational efforts had started by May 1974. The squad was given “final approval” by the state by August 14, 1974. Blowing Rock Hospital provided much of the training and equipment for their start-up.
  • They covered the same territory as Blowing Rock Fire Department, with members on call 24/7, and the squad dispatched by telephone and radio through the Blowing Rock Police Department. The squad did not “replace” Watauga Ambulance Service. [HDR, 8/14/74]
  • As early as May 1977, they sought to expand their service to Caldwell County and requested but were turned down for a funding request. [HDR, 5/24/77] They started receiving funding from Caldwell County in [goes here].
  • Merged with fire department in 2008.

Watauga Medics, Inc.

  • Started service in 2000 (?).
  • Ended service in December 2025, county contract ended with retirement of parent company owner.
  • Parent company also EMS provider for Ashe, Madison, and Mitchell counties.

Blowing Rock Fire-Rescue

  • Created 2008 as consolidation of town fire department and private rescue squad. Also provided EMS service to parts of Caldwell County.
  • 2022, July – Department discontinued EMS transport service in Caldwell County, replaced by Caldwell County EMS vehicles and personnel. Also, with the change, the fire department ceased providing backup and stand by service to the rest of Watauga County. 

Watauga County EMS

  • Created in 2025.
  • County purchased assets and facilities of Watauga Medics, Inc., and hired many of their staff.
  • Division of Watauga County Emergency Services.

Photos

Sources

Legeros Fire Line – Ambulances Over the Decades – 12/14/25
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DDK2m1Voi/

Legeros Fire Line – New Watauga County EMS – 12/12/25
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Cpeix2TFu/

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QVC Distribution Center Fire – December 18, 2021

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Top left photo courtesy Red Oak Community Fire Department. Top right photo, screen grab from CBS 17. 
Shown in the middle and bottom row of photos are ladders from Enfield (Halifax), Winterville (Pitt), Youngsville (Franklin), and Knightdale (Wake). The two tankers are Toisnot (top) and Williamston (bottom). Pics via FB postings from their respective FDs, or affiliated agencies.

Introduction

This posting presents research notes about the QVC Distribution Center fire in Edgecombe County, NC, on December 18, 2021. The fire is both the largest structure fire by building size and fire loss in state history.

These notes are evolving and will likely be refined and perhaps expanded over the coming weeks and months.

Run Card

Fire departments and fire suppression agencies included:

  1. Ayden 4202 (Engine)  – Pitt
  2. Bahama (Tanker 316)  – Durham
  3. Bailey Tanker 87  – Nash
  4. Battleboro Engine?  – Nash
  5. Bethany engine  – Johnston
  6. Bunn  – Franklin
  7. Bunyan (tanker)  – Beaufort
  8. Cary (L1)  – Wake
  9. Castalia – Tanker 77  – Nash
  10. Chocowinity (tanker)  – Beaufort
  11. Clarks Neck 2504 (Tanker)  – Pitt
  12. Cleveland engine  – Johnston
  13. Conetoe  – Edgecombe
  14. Coopers Truck 151, Tanker 15, Engine 152  – Nash
  15. Elm City  – Wilson
  16. Enfield  – Halifax
  17. Epsom (TA52)  – Franklin
  18. Farmville 5302 (Engine)  – Pitt
  19. Ferrells Tanker 135  – Nash
  20. Fountain 5407 (Pumper/Tanker)  – Pitt
  21. Franklin County ES  – Franklin
  22. Garner (Tanker 7)  – Wake
  23. Hamilton Tanker 35  – Martin
  24. Heartsease  – Edgecombe
  25. Jason  – Greene
  26. Knightdale (L13)  – Wake
  27. Lebanon (Tanker 515)  – Durham
  28. Leggett  – Edgecombe
  29. Lewis Community  – Edgecombe
  30. Louisburg  – Franklin
  31. Macclesfield  – Edgecombe
  32. Middlesex Tanker 57  – Nash
  33. Nashville Truck 14  – Nash
  34. NC Forest Service
    Resources included 2- 6000 gallon water tenders, 1- Helicopter, 2-Dozers, 2- UTVs, 2- large sprinklers, 14 personal handling rolls from command staff to equipment operation, plus pickups and Type 6 engines operated by assisting personnel.
  35. Northeast (E2)  – Wayne
  36. Northern Wake (E51)  – Wake
  37. Oak City Fire Dept Tanker 45  – Martin
  38. Oakland (TA__ 9601) – Wayne
  39. Pactolus 2404 (Pumper/Tanker)  – Pitt
  40. Pinetops  – Edgecombe
  41. Pinetown (tanker)  – Beaufort
  42. Pricetown (TA2)  – Wayne
  43. Princeville  – Edgecombe
  44. Red Oak 5108 (Ladder)  – Pitt
  45. Red Oak Truck 125  – Nash
  46. Robersonville Tanker 54  – Martin
  47. Rocky Mount  – Edgecombe
  48. Salem – Tanker 187  – Nash
  49. Saulston  – Wayne
  50. Scotland Neck  – Halifax
  51. Scuffleton (Tanker 4502)  – Greene
  52. Seven Springs (E1 brush)  – Wayne
  53. Sharp Point 5604 (Tanker)  – Pitt
  54. Sharpsburg Truck 114, 116  – Nash
  55. Silver Lake (Tanker 92)  – Wilson
  56. Simpson 3207 (Pumper/Tanker)  – Pitt
  57. Snow Hill  – Greene
  58. South Edgecombe  – Edgecombe
  59. Speed  – Edgecombe
  60. Tarboro  – Edgecombe
  61. Toison (E77 ATV)  – Wilson
  62. Wake Forest (L1 Tanker 3 Tanker 4)  – Wake
  63. Wake New Hope (Tanker 10)  – Wake
  64. West Edgecombe  – Edgecombe
  65. West Mount Truck 4  – Nash
  66. Whitakers Truck 10  – Nash
  67. Williamston Tanker 24  – Martin
  68. Wilson (ladder)  – Wilson
  69. Winterville (town) 1502 (Engine) 1508 (ladder)  – Pitt
  70. Winterville Community 4107 (Pumper/Tanker)  – Pitt
  71. Youngsville (L4 Tanker 247)  – Franklin

Sources: Legeros Fire Line postings on Facebook. Specific citations TBD, search the page to find the postings. 

Oral History

Notes from spoken remarks in the February 2026 episode of the Carolina Fire Watch podcast, from a conversation with host Brian Kelly speaking with Rocky Mount Assistant Fire Chief Jamey Cooke and NCDOI fire investigator Craig Jarman. These notes are based on auto-generated transcript.

Suppression

  • Largest structure fire / fire loss in state history.
  • Early into incident, RMFD received request for an aerial. Cook was a BC on duty and sent an aerial, a rescue company, a safety officer, and himself. RMFD had two BCs on duty, and Cook assigned himself, because he was familiar with the area and knew a bit about the facility.
  • As he started en route, he soon saw a glow in the sky from several miles away. [The facility was 10 to 12 miles away from the nearest RMFD station.]
  • At that time, most of the departments in the county had been called for mutual aid. They had also called Tarboro for an aerial.
  • When Cook arrived, the structure was 75% involved, at about 45 minutes into the incident
  • Interior operations had been performed. But by the time Cook arrived, it was all defensive operations
  • Not long after Cook arrived they started having water supply issues. Within say 30 minutes of him arriving they started requesting resources from as far west as Wake County and farther east, notably for tankers
  • They also had an influx of firefighters who initially self dispatched, but would have been called later anyway
  • The tanker shuttle lasted around 36 hours
  • Overall fire suppression didn’t settle down for 10 days
  • With help from Emergency Management and the State Forestry Service, command post campus was set up including full size bathrooms, breakout rooms, and other resources
  • They had multiple UTVs running around the facility because of the size of the complex
  • Forestry brought two 6000 gallon water tankers
  • Forestry also did water drops which had only recently been approved for the state forest service to perform water drops on top of a structure
  • The Forestry Service started water drops on the second day, They were filling from a nearby pond Comm with the helicopter buckets holding almost 500 gallons dipping from a pond that was about 2 or three miles away
  • 30 million gallons flowed in the first 24 hours
  • For tanker shuttles, there were no ponds or rivers available for drafting, they were all too low, the result of a significant drought period, so water points were set 6 miles away from the fire scene, to get off of grid that was already taxed by the fire.

Investigation

  • Early Saturday and into Sunday, they started bringing in partner agencies for the investigation. But they didn’t actually get into the building until Tuesday, they recall.
  • On Monday, the decision was made to request an ATF national response.
  • ATF responded with around 43 personnel.
  • Lot of command buses and mobile command posts came to the scene.
  • Total of 101 different agencies assisted. From Rocky Mount, they had 55 firefighters. And of the 101 agencies, there were 70 (or 73?) fire departments.
  • Early on, it was determined that not everyone needed to work at the fire scene itself. Space at the convention center was procured and used by the investigation team (and other groups?).
  • Command had to interact with dozens of interested parties: city, county, state officials, politicians, news media, attorneys, and private investigators. And about the lawyers, they were not just those hired by QVC, but others hired by the companies who were selling products through QVC.
  • 5 million square-feet of burned area, plus one fatality.
  • There are four cause types, accidental, natural, incendiary, or intentional.
  • Cause was ruled as underdetermined, as they narrowed the cause down to two or three possibilities but could not put any more weight on one than the others.
  • Side note, the label “arson investigator” is lately discouraged. “Fire investigator” is the better choice.
  • Largest fire loss in state history.
  • Investigation was joint effort between OSFM, DOI, SBI, ATF.
  • Within a couple days, they had 150 fire investigators on site.
  • Between firefighters and employees, over a hundred interviews conducted within the first 24 to 36 hours.
  • Largest ATF national response for a fire in recent memory, they said.
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Two Alarms on Aldie Court

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Raleigh Professional Fire Fighters photo

Two alarms were struck in Raleigh on Tuesday afternoon, February 9, 2026, on Aldie Court, on the far southeast side of the city. Engine 12 was first-arriving, with heavy fire in the rear of a row of townhomes. Quickly knocked down, the fire was controlled in 28 minutes. Most second-alarm companies were returned to service.

Notes from radio traffic:

  • ~2:34 p.m. – First alarm – E26 E12 E10 E21 L12 L1 SQ7 B2 B1 ISO14 – 3516 Aldie Court – Two-story townhome with 1,418 square-feet, built 2010. One of eight units.
  • ~2:35 p.m. – Units en route reporting a header, plus multiple callers. Upgraded to working fire.
  • ~2:36 p.m. – Working fire – R16 A10 DC1 Chief Inv
  • ~2:38 p.m. – Engine 12 first-arriving. Fire in the rear, Division C. 
  • ~2:39 p.m. – Battalion 2 arrived, requested second alarm, have heavy fire in Division C. Also, directed Ladder 1 to set-up on nearby street, when they arrive. Also, second engine had arrived by that time, Engine 26.
  • ~2:40 p.m. – Second alarm – E2 E11 E3 L20 L6.
  • 2:46 p.m. – Battalion 2 took command. Had heavy fire in rear, but had been knocked down.
  • 2:49 p.m. – Except for Engine 2, all other second-alarm companies can return to service.
  • 3:06 p.m. – Under control.
  • 3:06 p.m. – Request for additional ladder, assist with overhaul.

Narrative from Raleigh Professional Fire Fighters Association posting on Facebook:

  • *2 Alarm Fire* Yesterday afternoon a little after 1430 hours, dispatch received numerous calls in reference to a house fire on the 3500 block of Aldie Ct. Engine 12 and Ladder 12 “The Dirty Dozen” were first on scene at a 2 story MOG townhouse with smoke and flames showing from Division C. Engine 12 caught their own water supply and began fire attack while Ladder 12 split for search and vent operations. Upon their arrival, Engine 26 took a line to Division 2 to knock the attic fire in the primary residence, and Engine 10/Squad 7 checked the exposures on Bravo/Delta sides. A second alarm was struck a few minutes into operations due to the threat of exposures catching.
  • A quick knock by 12 and 26 prevented extensive damage to adjacent residences, superb work from the two companies. The fire was marked under control in approx. 20 minutes with no injures to report. The Local 548 is proud to serve the citizens of Raleigh.
  • Run card: B1 B2 DC1 ISO14 INVC A28 E2 E3 E10 E11 E12 E21 E26 L1 L6 L12 L20 S7 R16
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Raleigh Run Numbers – 2025

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Run numbers for Raleigh for 2025.  

Overall Summary

Total incidents – 61,886
Total per-unit runs – 90,166

Historical Comparison

  2025 2024 2023 2022
Total Incidents 61,886 58,166 54,746 53,238
Total Per-Unit Runs 90,166 83,697 77,425 73,166

Here’s a PDF document with numbers from 1993 to 2022. It’s due for updating, 

Incident Types, Largest to Smallest Counts

36,186 – Rescue & EMS
8,684 – Good Intent Call
7,391 – False Alarm & False Call
4,810 – Service Call
1,971 – Hazards-No Fire
1,486 – Special Incidents
1,314 – Fire
36 – Overpressure-No Fire
8 – Severe Weather

Runs Per Unit

Engine 01 – 2,581
Engine 02 – 3,004
Engine 03 – 4,109
Engine 04 – 1,788
Engine 05 – 1,807
Engine 06 – 1,655
Engine 08 – 2,362
Squad 07 – 2,863
Engine 09 – 2,363
Engine 10 – 2,394
Engine 11 – 2,786
Engine 12 – 3,388
Engine 13 – 2,515
Squad 14 – 2,380
Engine 15 – 3,695
Engine 16 – 2,758
Engine 17 – 1,747
Engine 18 – 1,692
Engine 19 – 3,627
Engine 20 – 2,164
Engine 21 – 2,621
Engine 22 – 2,306
Engine 23 – 1,405
Engine 24 – 1,826
Engine 25 – 1,507
Engine 26 – 1,894
Engine 27 – 1,132
Engine 28 – 1,287
Engine 29 – 644

Ladder 01 – 2,791
Ladder 04 – 1,376
Ladder 06 – 1,834
Ladder 12 – 2,358
Ladder 14 – 1,665
Ladder 15 – 2,471
Ladder 20 – 1,180
Ladder 22 – 1,475
Ladder 23 – 1,350
 
Rescue 16 – 1,473

Battalion 1 – 435
Battalion 2 – 775
Battalion 3 – 767
Battalion 4 – 506
Battalion 5 – 1,167

Division Chief 1 – 157

Air 10 – 107
Air 28 – 91

Investigator 1 – 164
Chief Investigator – 37

Incident Safety Officer 14 – 1,216
 
Mini Pumper 07 – 29
Mini Pumper 14 – 43
Mini Pumper 28 – 7
 
Haz-Mat 2 – 56
Haz-Mat 8 – 74
Haz-Mat  22 – 26
Haz-Mat 27 – 63
Haz-Mat 29 – 63
Haz-Mat Program Manager – 9
 
ATV 14 – 15
ATV 22 – 6
ATV 28 – 3
Chaplain – 15
High Water Rescue 17 – 12
Rehab 12 – 20
Water Rescue 21 – 20

Top Engines

Engine 03 – 4,109
Engine 15 – 3,695
Engine 19 – 3,627
Engine 12 – 3,388
Engine 02 – 3,004

Top Ladders

Ladder 01 – 2,791
Ladder 15 – 2,471
Ladder 12 – 2,358

Top Battalion Chiefs

Battalion 5 – 1,167
Battalion 2 – 775
Battalion 3 – 767

Infographics

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History of Ambulance Service and Rescue Squads in Johnston County

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This is a blog version of a Facebook posting. 

Research notes on ambulance and rescue squad history in Johnston County.   

1950 to 1959

1957, Jun – Johnston County Civil Defense Rescue Squad operating by this time. Based in Smithfield [NO, 6/3/57, GNA 1/31/59]

1958, Sep – Kenly Rescue Squad organized by September 1958. First vehicle was an International step van, former police “paddy wagon” from the Marine Corps bought for $135. Organized as part of the town civil defense organization, led by Hank Cogdell, a pharmacist. Unit was parked in a vacant lot beside the town hall until a building was erected to house the unit plus the town’s two fire trucks. In addition to answering recall calls, it would accompany fire trucks on fire calls. Squad captain was Harold Hinnant. It had six members by October 23. [NO, 9/28/58, GNA 10/23/58]

1960 to 1969 Continue reading ‘History of Ambulance Service and Rescue Squads in Johnston County’ »

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Burke County School Explosion – March 17, 1987

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Looking back at the explosion and fire that destroyed Salem Junior High School in Burke County, NC, in March 1987.

Tuesday night, March 17, 1987. Address was 1311 Salem Road, south of Morganton. Three-story brick building with 25,000+ square-feet. It was located on a campus that also included two elementary school facilities, a gymnasium, and a storage trailer.

Built in 1931, it originally housed Salem High School until 1973. Was repurposed as a junior high. It had 16 classrooms, a library, and several offices. It housed 440 students.

On the night of the explosion, the building was empty. Next door, however, more than 300 faculty, students, and spectators were watching a basketball game in the gymnasium building. It was only 50 feet away.

The explosion occurred around 7:30 p.m. It was described as a “dull thud” by those in the gym. Said one attendee, “it shook the walls in the gym and shook loose some broken window panes.” The explosion was heard several miles away.

The blast blew out the front windows of the Salem Elementary School, which was located 75 feet away. It also destroyed five automobiles parked next to the junior high school. The damage included a six-inch “piece of metal window frame” that punctured the trunk of a Pontiac Fiero. Falling concrete blocks crushed the fronts of vehicles.

Continue reading ‘Burke County School Explosion – March 17, 1987’ »

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Broyhill Furniture Factory Fire – January 14, 1976

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Fifty years ago this month, the Broyhill furniture factory in Marion, NC, burned on January 14, 1976. Here are some notes about the incident. 

– Wednesday morning.
– January 14, 1976.
– 11:05 a.m.

– Otis L. Broyhill furniture plant on West Henderson Street. [AC, 1/15/76]
– Three-story building housed finishing room, where fire started.
– Three- or five-acre site, primarily wooden buildings, some of which were built in 1904. [WSJ, 1/15/76]
– Manufactured “early American-style white pine bedroom furniture.”

– Plant was “fully protected” by automatic sprinklers. [WSJ, 1/16/76]
– Had 1,500 GPM fire pump. [WSJ, 1/16/76]
– Reservoir with 300,000 gallons of water. [WSJ, 1/16/76]

– Fire started in the finishing room. [AC, 1/15/76]
– Caused by a steam pipe “that was not ordinarily used” was turned on and became so hot that it ignited the “lacquer mist, or fog” in the room. [AC, 1/15/76]
– Flames then quickly spread to other buildings, including a warehouse where $3M to $4M of finished furniture was stored. [AC, 1/15/76] Continue reading ‘Broyhill Furniture Factory Fire – January 14, 1976’ »

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Merger Proposed for Wendell Fire Department and Town of Wendell

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This is a blog version of an earlier Facebook posting. 

Report from Wake County. On Monday, January 12, 2026, the Board of Commissioners of the Town of Wendell received a presentation from Wake County Fire and Emergency Management about the possibility of a merger of the private, non-profit organization Wendell Fire Department (WFD) with the town of Wendell.

Watch the presentation at, starting at the 22 minute mark: 

See presentation slides (PDF)

Here are some notes from the presentation, phraseology is all ours:

In 1998, the Wake County Fire Tax District was created. This was a single tax district for all unincorporated areas of Wake County, created for the purpose for funding fire services for those “rural” areas.

This change was recommended in a 1994 consultant’s study. At that time, there were 22 different fire tax districts, for funding the respective “rural” response districts.

In 1998, the town of Wendell asked to also be unincluded in the new Wake County Fire Tax District. They were the only municipality. This passed the burden of fire service taxation from the town to the county.

Today, the town contracts with WFD for service inside the town limits, with the county handling the taxation of residents. For those areas outside the town limits, but within the Wendell “rural” district, the county contracts with WFD.

Continue reading ‘Merger Proposed for Wendell Fire Department and Town of Wendell’ »

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