Raleigh Run Numbers – 2021

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Belated blog posting of prior Facebook posting. Run numbers for Raleigh FD in 2021, unit runs and total calls [incidents]. See prior years, from 1993 forward, in this PDF document.

47,943 – Total Calls
70,684 – Total Runs

Unit Runs

E1 – 1,728
E2 – 2,162
E3 – 2,508
E4 – 1,385
E5 – 1,358
E6 – 1,235
S7 – 3,014
E8 – 2,231
E9 – 1,871
E10 – 1,968
E11 – 2,955
E12 – 3,037
E13 – 1,726
S14 – 2,069
E15 – 2,599
E16 – 2,214
E17 – 1,560
E18 – 1,407
E19 – 2,974
E20 – 1,972
E21 – 2,166
E22 – 1,640
E23 – 999
E24 – 1,194
E25 – 953
E26 – 1,386
E27 – 928
E28 – 1,296
E29 – 417
 
L01 – 2,006 – Renumbered from Sta 4 to Sta 1 on Jan 25
L04 – 1,099 – Renumbered from Sta 1 to Sta 4 on Jan 25
L06 – 1,239 – Activated at Sta 6 on Mar 29
L12 – 1,893 – Renumbered from L8 on Jan 11
L14 – 1,146
L15 – 2,093 – Renumbered from L2 on Jan 20
L20 – 1,231 – Renumbered from L7 on Jan 4
L23 – 831
L25 – 560 – Renumbered from L5 on Jan 18
 
R16 – 1,328
B1 – 552
B2 – 662
B3 – 682
B4 – 439
B5 – 976
 
Safety Officer 14 – 467
Division Chief 1 – 166
Investigator 1 – 296
 
97 – Air 10
92 – Air 28
75 – HM2 – Renumbered from HM1 on Feb 22
67 – HM8 – Renumbered from HM3 on Feb 22
33 – HM25 – Renumbered from HM4 on Feb 22
63 – HM27 – Renumbered from HM5 on Feb 22
47 – HM29 – Renumbered from HM2 on Feb 22
28 – Haz-Mat Program Manager
28 – Mini 7
15 – Mini 14
09 – Mini 28
20 – USAR 801
17 – USAR Program Manager
15 – ATV14
09 – ATV25

Busiest Engines

‘E19 – 2,974
E11 – 2,955
Sq7 – 2,900
E12 – 2,812
E15 – 2,599

Busiest Ladders

L15 – 2,093
L01 – 2,006
L12 – 1,893

Busiest Rescue

R16, baby!

Busiest Battalion Chief

B5 – 976 (as if you had to ask)

And that’s a wrap for that year. See you in January, 2023!

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Wake County Fire Commission Meeting – April 14, 2022

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The Wake County Fire Commission will hold a special-called meeting on Thursday, April 14, 2022, at 7:00 p.m., at the Wake County Emergency Services Education Center, 221 S. Rogers Lane, Raleigh, NC 27610 .

The purpose of the meeting is to receive and approve the proposed FY23 budget, at which point it will become part of the County Manager’s recommended budget, which will be submitted for approval by the Wake County Board of Commissioners in June. 

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 call of membership
    • Approval of Agenda
  • Public Comments:
  • Regular Agenda
    • FY23 Budget Presentation
  • Adjournment – Next Meeting – May 19, 2022
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Apex Public Safety Station 6

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Here’s another update on future fire stations in Wake County. Design drawings and site plans for Apex Public Safety 6, under construction at 1206 Wimberly Road. Joint fire and police facility, single-story, two bays.

And designed to help address some of the pressing issues facing today’s fire service: occupational cancer, behavioral health, and inclusion. Thus there’s a decon transition area between the apparatus bay and station living areas. Also interior finishes were chosen to make the facility more of a fire “house” than a fire “station.” And the facility was designed to provide as much shared social space as feasible, while still providing an appropriate amount of seclusion as needed. Bravo!

Here’s the project description from the town’s budget page: “Public Safety Station 6 ($6,500,000) […] will provide fire and emergency services to the White Oak Basin and Green Level areas of Apex. Development trends indicate construction of 2,100 new homes will occur in this area within the next few years. Response times from Fire Station 3 do not meet our standards due to the physical distance from the station to the area. This station will feature a new design to meet the needs of both fire and police departments. Station 6 will house a new engine and 12-14 fire personnel.”

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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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