In October 1954, a much smaller version of the Raleigh Fire Department answered dozens of calls as Hurricane Hazel passed across the state. The department–with seven engine companies and two truck companies–had one of their busiest weekends ever, said newspapers.
For four decades, Hazel was recognized as the benchmark of tropical weather in this part of the country. Hurricane Fran passed that benchmark in 1996. What did the fire department response look like, when Hazel blew through Raleigh?
Fire Calls During Hurricane Hazel
From the Monday, October 18, 1954 edition of the Raleigh Times:
Raleigh firemen experienced one of their busiest weekends as a result of damage wrought by Hurricane Hazel.
The following telephone calls were answered on Friday:
- 8:05 a.m., 23 Bragg Street, electric wire, no damage;
- 10:04 a.m., 1206 Park Drive, rug on fire, damage not estimated;
- 11:30 a.m., 20 E. Cabarrus Street, electric wires, no damage;
- 1:40 p.m., 714 Glenwood Avenue, electric wires, no damage:
- 2:05 p.m., Lenior and Salisbury, electric wires, no damage;
- 2:35 p.m., Colleton Road, house, damage not estimated;
- 3:00 p.m., 500 S. Salisbury Street, tree on auto, damage no estimated;
- 3:55 p.m., Carolina Buck Company, use of ladder needed;
- 6:40 p.m., 400 block Oberlin Road, electric wires, no damage;
- 7:15 p.m., 908 Fayetteville Street, oil stove, no damage;
- 8:40 p.m., Cabarrus and Cutler, electric wires, no damage;
- 9:00 p.m., S. East Street, electric wires, no damage;
- 10:15 p.m., 500 block Salisbury Street, tree on fire, no damage;
- 10:53 p.m., 128 N. Harrington Street, inspection;
- 11:30 p.m., Bloodworth and Edenton Street, inspection
Calls on Saturday included:
- 7.31 a.m., Box 313 alarm at Manly and Pugh Streets, oil stove, no damage;
- 2:10 p.m., Mullins Lane, electric wires, no damage;
- 5:32 p.m., Box 241 alarm at Martin and State Streets, oil stove, damage not estimated;
- 7:17 p.m., 2931 Wade Avenue, electric wires, no damaged;
- 8:39 p.m., 109 N. Boylan Avenue, electric wires, no damage;
- 8:46 p.m., same as above;
- 11:36 p.m., Franklin and Person Streets, brush and smudge pot on fire, no damage.
Sunday’s calls included:
- 2:45 a.m., 2302 Byrd Street, electric motor, no damage;
- 9:05 a.m., 319 S. Dawson, inspection;
- 10:12 a.m., Sawyer Lane, chimney, no damage;
- 1:40 p.m., 400 block Peace, bus on fire, no damage;
- 12:41 to 421 N. Bloodworth Street, look for lost child;
- 2:52 p.m., to 13 Maiden Lane, tree about to fall, no damage.
Then and Now
As for the size of the Raleigh Fire Department in 1954: Continue reading ‘Raleigh Fire Calls During Hurricane Hazel in 1954’ »
