First Rated Rural Water Supply – Nahunta FD, 1979

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Note: See this Facebook posting for comments and discussion about this blog posting.

This posting was updated on November 14, 2021

On August 1, 1979, the Nahunta Volunteer Fire Department in Wayne County became the first rural fire department in both North Carolina and the nation to receive a municipal fire insurance rating, because of a pioneering rural water supply system that used mutual aid tankers and portable dump tanks to provide a sustained and consistent flow of water for firefighting. 

As recounted in the Goldsboro News-Argus on February 26, 1980, the department’s rating of “Municipal Class 8” was “traditionally reserved for fire departments in cities and towns with fixed water supplies, fire hydrants, police forces, and other reserves not found in reserve areas.”

The department’s new rating took effect on August 1. Then on December 1, neighboring Polly Watson Volunteer Fire Department became the second to win the rating. (The county’s other rural departments were “working for it,” added the story.”) PWVFD was instrumental in NVFD’s rating, as the “fast-dump” water supply system relied on the participation of tankers from neighboring rural departments.

Insurance officials conducted inspections of Polly Watson, Fremont, Little River, Belfast, and Fork Township fire departments, in order to make their determination for Nahunta’s insurance rating. 

Continue reading ‘First Rated Rural Water Supply – Nahunta FD, 1979’ »

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Auxiliary Trucks During the Forties

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Contents

  • Introduction
  • Durham’s Auxiliary Trucks
  • Wilmington’s Auxiliary Trucks
  • Sources

Introduction

How many cities in North Carolina operated “auxiliary trucks” in the 1940s and later? Show are trucks from Wilmington, Raleigh, and Durham. 

The top photo, from a photocopy, appears in Wilmington Fire Department 1897-1985. More  on their auxiliary trucks below. The middle photo is Raleigh’s 1948 Ford “squad truck,” which replaced a 1944 Dodge destroyed in an accident the year before. The unit was still in service past 1963.

The bottom photo is Durham’s 1941 Ford, that later served Garner in Wake County, and then Harrell in Sampson County. More on Durham’s auxiliary trucks below.

Greensboro also operated one, reported a 1951 fire protection report. It was an International truck with a 350-gallon front-mount pump. It was also equipped with a 1,250-watt generator and floodlight, a foam generator with 200 pounds of powder, a foam aspirator with five gallons of liquid, and other “minor equipment.” 

Durham’s Auxiliary Trucks Continue reading ‘Auxiliary Trucks During the Forties’ »

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Oak View Fire Department History

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Research notes on the history of the Oak View Fire Department in Guilford County, which protected the Oakview community just outside the old city limits of High Point. They were chartered in 1952, started operating in 1955/56, and merged with the city on January 1, 1960. 

Newspaper Citations

See some of these articles in this Google Drive folder.

1952 to 1954 Continue reading ‘Oak View Fire Department History’ »

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Wake County Ambulance Colors

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Random chart. Ambulance colors of Wake County, past ‘n’ present. See this Facebook page for reference pictures. And which agencies are still operating? Exactly one[1]. Wake County EMS.

[1] Yes, “Raleigh Rescue” is still operating, but it’s been decades since they transported patients.

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SAFRE 2021 – The 100 Year Report

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One-hundred years and two weeks ago, the 34th annual convention of the North Carolina State Firefighter’s Association opened in Gastonia (pop. 12,871 in 1920). The three-day event was preceded by a reception for delegates and visiting tournament teams on Monday, August 22. The convention formally opened at 11:00 a.m. the following day, at the Gaston County Courthouse. On Wednesday, August 24, another business session was held, followed by a picnic and luncheon on South Street and Franklin Avenue, as well as baseball at Loray Park. The next day, and the last day of the event, tournament contests were held on Broad Street and Second Avenue, starting at 9:00 a.m.

Here are some highlights of the three-day event:

CALLED TO ORDER

Tuesday, August 23 – Morning Session
11:00 a.m. – Convention Hall

The convention was called to order by President James H. Wood of Asheville. As the minister who was scheduled to appear had not arrived, the President asked someone “on the floor” to offer a “prayer for our guidance during our deliberations.” The invocation was given by Chief W. P. Neister of Spencer Shops.

The Address of Welcome was given by Mayor R. G. Cherry of Gastonia. “It is indeed inspiring to come into the presence of a convention which is made up of a body of men like these fellows who have red hot American blood flowing through their veins,” he said, to start.

Continue reading ‘SAFRE 2021 – The 100 Year Report’ »

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Raleigh Adds Shift Safety Officers

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Big day in Raleigh yesterday. Safety Officer 14 was placed in service at 0800 hours on Saturday, July 17, 2021, the first shift-assigned incident safety officers (ISO) for the department.[1]

Staffed by three seasoned captains, the unit is based at Station 14, and is automatically dispatched on structure fires, haz-mat calls, and technical rescue calls. They can also be requested to other incidents as needed.

On scene, they’ll moving around and watching what’s happening, and looking for hazards and making suggestions as needed to the incident commander. They can also jump on the radio, if urgent safety matters need immediate attention.

Among their new equipment and PPE are high-visibility vests and SCBA identifiers, red. And one Fire Fighters Friend-brand exit locator device, which will be deployed just inside the threshold of a structure, to aid in evacuation. It’s equipped with both a flashing beacon and a siren.

Shown left to right at Captain/ISO K. C. Ray (A shift), Safety Chief Keith Wilder, Captain/ISO Stephen Welch (B shift), and Captain/ISO Brian Taylor (C shift).

[1] What’s the historical perspective? The most-recent Safety Officer position was created in 2010 as a day-duty position at Fire Administration. Currently filled by Battalion Chief Keith Wilder and named Safety Chief, it oversees the Health and Safety Compliance Division.

Earlier safety officers included Command Tommy Gattis, assigned to training, and who performed that role at (major?) incidents in the 1990s (and other years?). See the Facebook version of this posting for more about that. 

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Wake County Fire Commission Meeting – Thursday, July 15, 2021

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The Wake County Fire Commission will hold its regular-schedule meeting on Thursday, July 15, 2021. This is a physical, in-person meeting. It starts at 7:00 p.m. 

The agenda and meeting documents are below. Information on submitting public comments and access for viewing/listening are posted on the Wake County Public Meetings Calendar. 

View Meeting Documents

Agenda

  • Meeting Called to Order: Chairman Keith McGee
    • Invocation
    • Pledge of allegiance
    • Roll of Members Present
    • Adoption of Minutes for May 20 Regular Meeting
    • Approval of Agenda
  • Public Comments:
  • Items of Business
    • Committee Appointments
    • Update on Future Opportunities
  • Regular Agenda
  • Information Agenda
    • Fire Tax Financial Report – Aaron Brown
    • Standing Committee Updates
      • Administrative
      • Apparatus
      • Budget
      • Communications
      • Equipment
      • Facility
      • Health & Wellness
      • Training
      • Volunteer Recruitment & Retention Committee
    • Chair Report
    • Fire Services Report
  • Other Business
  • Adjournment – Next Meeting – September 16, 2021
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Relocating Fire Station 14 – Now in Service

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This is an ongoing blog posting about the relocating of Fire Station 14. 

See Legeros updates below. See also ongoing Legeros photos. And here’s the official project site from the city.

Contents

  • 7/8/21 – Now in Service
  • 4/16/21 – Construction Nearly Completion
  • 8/10/19 – Walls Going Up
  • 6/25/19 – Site Work Nearly Finished
  • 3/23/19 – Site Work Finishing
  • 7/25/18 – Site Work Started
  • 1/17/17 – Construction Bid Awarded
  • 12/28/17 – Site Cleared
  • 11/9/16 – Second Public Meeting
  • 8/15/16 – Drawings and Floor Plan
  • 8/6/16 – Public Meeting

July 8, 2021
New Station 14 opened on July 7, 2021. It was activated at 6:17 p.m. 

Squad 14, Ladder 14 from Station 17, and Battalion 3 moved into their new quarters that day. Units and personnel moved their PPE and work equipment, along with personal belongings. IT staff relocated computers and communications equipment. Some other things, such as exercise equipment, would be transferred later. 

In addition to Squad 14, Ladder 14, and Battalion 3, the new station also houses Mini 14 and three trailers, for boats, ATV, and technical trainer. The boat trailer is parked inside the station, with the other two parked outside.

Station 14 will also house a new shift Safety Officer, who will be placed in service in the coming days. 

April 16, 2021
Construction nearing completion. Here’s a photo from last month:

Continue reading ‘Relocating Fire Station 14 – Now in Service’ »

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Charlotte in Yellow

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This is a version of an earlier Facebook posting.

Here’s view of a vintage Charlotte Seagrave 70th Anniversary Series pumper in yellow, along with other not-red units of the time. The 1966 model, nicknamed “the Chiquita Banana”, was one of two that were bought as a pair.

Recounts retired Charlotte Battalion Chief Kenneth Shane Nantz, they originally served as Engine 1 and Engine 20, both at Station 1. They were also the first engines equipped with pre-piped turret guns and electronic sirens, and the last two purchased with bells. 

The other one ended up as Engine 8 and remained red. This one became Engine 5, had a significant wreck, and was repainted yellow when rebuilt. 

The picture was posted to the Facebook public group North Carolina Towns by Makatoka King. Visit the group and search on “fire” to find some other vintage fire pics from around NC, posted by King. Source posting. 

Makatoka King photo

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Raleigh Short Academies

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This is a version of an earlier Facebook posting.

Hey Mike, how many “short academies” has Raleigh conducted before the one that graduated today? First, a bit of context.

Academy 46, which graduated today, was one of two that started on the same day in late April. Sixteen were hired, for a ten-week academy, and with existing firefighter experience and certifications as a requirement. (Why did the city implement a “short academy?” To get a quantity of new firefighters on line ASAP, to fill vacant positions.)

The academy was conducted concurrently with Academy 47, which required no prior experience for hiring, and concludes its thirty-week academy in November. Those members will graduate with experience and state certifications in EMT, Firefighter I, Firefighter II, and Haz-Mat Technician Level I.

Prior to 2021, the last “short academy” was held in 2004. The first was held in 1998, and that series is shown in orange in the below bar chart. Also shown, in green, were three academies that included recruits from outside FDs. (From Wilson and Wake County.)

See more academy history notes and data at https://www.legeros.com/ralwake/raleigh/history 

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