Cary as Nexus of the Career Fire Service

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As we celebrate the centennial anniversary of the Cary Fire Department this year, let’s look at the many connections between CFD and other career departments around Wake County and elsewhere in North Carolina. Here’s a new infographic:

View  JPG |  View as PDF

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Wake County Fire Commission Meeting – June 2, 2022

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The Wake County Fire Commission will hold their regular meeting on Thursday, June 2, 2022, at 6:00 p.m., at the Wake County Emergency Services Education Center, 221 S. Rogers Lane, Raleigh, NC 27610. However, the meeting may be moved to virtual or postponed, due to some COVID issues within the office and departments.  

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
    • Adoption of Minutes for January 20, 2022 Regular Meeting
    • Adoption of Minutes for April 14, 2022 Special Called Meeting
    • Approval of Agenda
  • Public Comments:
    • Long Range Plan Data Analysis Presentation
    • Appointment of Fire Commission Chair
    • Appointment of Fire Commission Vice ChairRegular Agenda
  • Information Agenda
    • Fire Tax Financial Report – Budget Analyst Aaron Brown
    • Standing Committee Updates
      • Administrative
      • Apparatus
      • Budget
      • Communications
      • Equipment
      • Facility
      • Health & Wellness
      • Training
      • Volunteer Recruitment & Retention Committee
    • Chair Report
    • Fire Services Report
      • Recognition for Chief McGee’s retirement
      • Recognition of Members who are serving their final term – Ed Brinson and Mark Matthews
  • Other Business
  • Adjournment – Next Meeting – July 21, 2022
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Three Alarms on Water Oak Drive

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Three alarms were struck in north Raleigh on Monday, May 11, 2022, at 3900 Water Oak Drive. Three-story, wood-frame apartment building with 12,760 square-feet and 16 units, if reading tax records correctly. Dispatched 8:49 p.m. with Engine 19 first-arriving, with heavy fire in the front of the structure. Second alarm requested within a couple minutes.

See photos by Mike Legeros | Listen to radio traffic

Transitional attack, with crews going inside after knocking down the exterior flames. Two occupants rescued. As heavy fire conditions extended to and through the roof, crews were evacuated while aerial operations were set up. Ladder 4 (on reserve) deployed to rear of structure, with master stream to the roof. Ladder 15 later deployed from west side of building, for roof access.

Mike Legeros photo

Two hydrants were caught on New Hope Road, one just east of Water Oak, and another closer to Louisburg Road. One engine each boosting pressure, plus a third engine supplying Ladder 4, if memory serves correctly. Third hydrant was caught on Water Oak, north of the fire building, but wasn’t charged.

Units staged on both Water Oak and New Hope Road, the latter of which was closed between Capital Boulevard and Louisburg Road.

Third alarm dispatched about 9:49 p.m. Seventeen residents displaced. Controlled at 10:37 p.m. Thanks to Lee Wilson for real-time incident updates. Photographer arrived about 10 minutes into incident. Google for the various news reports.

Mike Legeros photo

Run Card

Fire:
1st alarm: E19, E15, E27, E21, L15, L12, R16, B1, B5, SO14
Working fire: DC1, INV1, A10, B2
Added: E11
2nd alarm: E28, E9, L4, L1, Sq7
3rd alarm: E26, E25, E2, L23
Also: Operations Chief, Logistics Chief, Chief Fire Investigator, Chief Safety Officer

Medical:
EMS30
EMS31, D6
EMS11, EMS12, D3
EMS48, EMS50, EMS52, EMS78, D9, Chief 200
EMS43
EMS52
EMS61

^ Transcribed from radio dispatches. Excluding EMS T1 and EVAC1, which did not respond. Corrections welcome!

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Greensboro Rescue History

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Introduction

This page presents research notes on the history of rescue squad vehicles in Greensboro and notably as operated by the Greensboro Life Saving squad and the Greensboro Fire Department and originally compiled in 2022. 

Ambulance and EMS agency history is presently not included. May expand at a later date and add information. 

Summary 

  • 1944 – GFD placed first rescue truck in service.
  • 1947 –  Greensboro Life Saving and First Aid Crew organized, GFD rescue truck donated to new group.
  • 1951 – By this time, GFD is housing the life saving crew’s rescue truck and staffing with one or two firemen and supplemented by life saving crew volunteers as needed.
  • 1958 – Life saving crew asks city to take over its assets due to financial trouble.
  • 1959 – Hanes-Lineberry Funeral Home started operating a rescue unit.
  • 1960 – Greensboro-Guilford County Rescue Squad created, operated by GFD. Adds new vehicles over next two years, including a Civil Defense heavy rescue truck.
  • Later – Civil Defense truck later disposed to county, for fire marshal’s office. GFD added three squads in 1977, maxi-pumpers also used for fire suppression. Decades later, heavy rescue companies returned to GFD. 

Timeline

1942, October – Greensboro Daily News on October 7, 1942, reported that city-county civil defense officials will use money from the sale of donated scrap materials to purchase a rescue truck for Greensboro FD and to be used both in the city and throughout the county.

1944, June – City-county civil defense organization purchased a used Army ambulance at Fort Bragg, for conversion into a rescue truck.

Continue reading ‘Greensboro Rescue History’ »

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Salem’s Circa 1850s Hand Engine

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We’ve been solving a history mystery this month over in the private SPAAMFAA group on Facebook, in a posting about the origins of Salem’s surviving circa 1850’s hand engine. Here’s a photo from Old Salem Museum and Gardens, where the engine sits in storage. See more photos.

Original Documentation

We entered the fray with this knowledge, from an 1893 anniversary history of SFD:

Our Findings

The origin of the engine:

  • Originally served Watchman Fire Company in Baltimore, MD.
  • Watchman FC was organized in 1840 and housed on Light Street and later E. Montgomery Street. The latter building survives today. 
  • This hand engine was very likely (but not definitively) by Rodgers & Sons of Baltimore. 
  • Characteristic details, noted by Josiah Wagener, include use of leaf springs (surprisingly rare on Philadelphia style engines), the use of wavy carved trim (almost unique to Rodgers engines), the slightly curved end boards on the tub, and the spring loaded hooks to secure the brakes from rocking during transport (common on Rodgers engines and rare among other manufacturers). 
  • In March 1849, the assets of Watchman FC included three suction engines, one hose carriage, and 500 feet of hose.
  • The Watchman Fire Company was disbanded in January 1860, following the creation of the Fire Department of Baltimore City in 1859.
  • At the time they disbanded, their assets consisted of one large suction engine and two hose reels.  

Its delivery and use:

  • It arrived in Salem by December 10, 1858, the date that it was tested for the first time.
  • It was the town’s first suction engine–it could draw water from wells, ponds, or other sources–and could supply two hose streams. The town’s earlier hand engines relied on water supplied by bucket brigade.
  • It was known as the Fries Engine, as it was purchased by Messers. F. & H. Fries and the town commissioners together.
  • It had a picture of General Zachary Taylor on it, for a time. (Maybe when purchased?)

Historical perspective:

  • 1785 – First fire engines delivered, two hand engines from Europe, one hand-carried and one with wheels. They have survived to present day, see photos.
  • 1832 – Newer hand engine delivered from Philadelphia, 200 GPM capacity, built by Merrick & Agnew. Also equipped with two-inch hose, first fire hose for town.
  • 1855 – Four-wheel hose carriage added, used for about 30 years.
  • 1858 – Newer hand engine purchased, from Baltimore’s Watchman Fire Company.
  • 1859 – Larger 1785 hand engine retired.
  • 1884 – Button hand engine purchased. The earlier engine, bought in 1858, was retired. Reported the People’s Press on May 8, 1884, the new engine was “out on trail” the past Saturday. It “throws two streams of water” and “of the latest improved pattern.” Some 30 men can operate the engine at one time, “ranging alongside the engine.” And “it pulls heavy.”
  • 1886 – Hand engine exchanged for Button steam engine.

Related

From the Weekly Raleigh Register on May 25, 1859.

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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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