Guliford College Fire Department History

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This blog post is based on a Facebook posting from May 2020, the content of which was moved here. 

Early years

  • 1941, July – Guilford College community members hold meeting about getting fire protection. They plan to petition the county for funds to buy a fire truck.
  • 1945, Aug – County commissioners approve a fire protection plan for Guilford College community.
  • 1946 – Fire department organized as Guilford College Community Volunteer Firemen’s Association, Inc.. They create a private corporation, with organization efforts starting circa April 1946.
  • First pumper is a 1941 Ford/Howe, purchased as war surplus, previously served Spartanburg, SC, military base. They also acquire a military surplus [?] 1750-gallon tanker.
  • Members purchased their own equipment and what passed for uniforms, often from the Sears catalog, the stories go. Department serves about 900 people [homes?].
  • 1946 – Station site acquired, 302 College Road at Savoy Lane. Purchased for $900.
  • 1947 – Station opened. Completed by November 1947. Members raised over $4,000 for the project, over several weeks ending in December 1946.
  • 1949 – GCCVFA incorporated.

Fifties and Sixties

  • 1958, May – Special election held to establish a fire protection district for GCFD, and with a fire tax with a rate of ten cents on every $100.
  • 1959, circa – Satellite station opened at 6017 Inman Road. Later numbered Guilford County Station 19. From tax records, property card records GCCVFA as owner starting 1959.
  • 1962, Apr – GCFD is responsible for fire protection at the airport, says the airport authority. This statement is made during a period of evaluating the airport’s firefighting capabilities. Eventually, the county takes responsibility and creates an airport FD that’s activated in 1965.
  • 1965 – Original pumper retired. Restored circa 1970 and used for fire prevention activities.
  • 1965 – Guilford College annexed by city, along with areas east to Muirs Chapel, and north along Westridge.
  • [ Sometime around this time, GCFD adds capacity for foam operations at the tank farm that’s in their district. More goes here. ]
  • 1969, circa – First [?] rescue truck added, 1969 Ford C600/Reading rescue.

Main Station Moved

  • 1970 – New station site acquired at 201 College Road. Ownership recorded as transferred to GCCVFA in 1970.
  • 1970, fall? – Station moved to 201 College Road. Numbered Guilford County Station 17. [When did the county numbering start?] Dedication reported in Nov-Dec 1970 issue of Hose & Nozzle. Between 400 and 500 people attend ceremony. Open house sponsored by GCFD Ladies Auxiliary. Costs $200,000.
  • 1971 – Old Station 17 site ownership recorded as transferred to private owner.
  • 1973 – Aerial apparatus added, first for any county FD. 1973 Ford C/Pierce Telesqurt, 1000/500/200/50-foot
  • 1982 – Dry-chemical unit added, 1982 International/Marion/Ansul Mangum 480, 200/1350#.
  • 1980s (early?) – GCFD plans for Station 39 on Market Street near the airport and tank farm, including designating the chemical truck as Chemical 39. The plans are abandoned after the city annexes that area.
  • 1980s – City annexations substantial areas of GCFD district, including south of the airport/Market/I-40, east of the airport to College Road, and north along College Road.

Another Move

  • 1987 – Station 17 on College Road and Station 19 on Inman Road both closed. GCFD moves to single location, new Station 19 at 6001 Old Oak Ridge Road on Sep 15, 1987. Costs $729,000.
  • 1988 – Station 17 site at 302 College Road site ownership recorded as transferred to City of Greensboro.
  • 1988 – Station 19 site at 6017 Inman Road site ownership recorded as transferred to airport authority. [ However, the tax records property card records owners as GCCVFA – 1959, then airport authority – 1985, then GCCVFA – 1985, then airport authority – 1988. ]
  • 1994, June – Department protects a “rapidly developing” 16 square-mile district. News Record, 6/4/94.
  • 1997/1998, annexation(s)
  • Nearly 10 square-miles north of airport, adding about 9,300 residents protected by GCFD. News Record, Feb 9, 1997.

Airport Expansion

  • 1998, summer – Airport offers department $1.2 million for their fire station. Department makes counter offer of $1.97 million. The authority backs off the discussion and hires an appraiser to estimate the value of the building and the four-acre site. Two prior appraisals placed the value at around $1.2M. The airport also asked a construction company for an estimate on the cost to rebuild the station on another site. The bid was $1.35 million. Winston-Salem Journal, Jan 20, 1999.
  • 1998, October – Study released by city, commissioned one year ago, to explore possibility of merging Guilford College, Colfax, and Pinecroft Sedgefield fire departments into the city. The report says it would save money, improve services, and remove duplication, if CFD and GCFD were merged with GFD. Among the savings: $300,000 per year paid to GCFD and CFD for protection of annexed areas. If the city annexes the GCFD area, a merger would save the city $3.15 million. The merger would also add a volunteer force to the city. However, PSFD is recommended to remain independent, because its large rural district is too expensive to cover. News-Record, 10/3/98.
  • 1999, Mar 23 – Airport authority votes to condemns fire station site, valuing the property at $1.2 million, which they had offered to GCFD, and which was the highest of three real-estate appraisals of the building. The action happens after months of intermittent negotiations, and the department’s belief that the station is worth $1.965 million. The vote sends the issue to Guilford Superior Court for mediation.
  • Buying the station, which has been approved by the FAA, has been on the airport’s FAA-master plan for several years. The airport is seeking to build a new runway as part of a proposed FedEx hub. Opponents of the project are asking the federal government to block the airport’s decision. They have urged GCFD to fight the condemnation proceedings vigorously, saying it’s unfair, because the airport is a public agency, pays no fire district tax, but accounts for 40-percent of GCFD’s runs.
  • Tentative plans for FedEx Hub call for the fire station to be demolished and replaced with a ramp for cargo plane parking. The FedEx project accelerated the airport’s efforts to buy the station, and as part of the initial agreement between FedEx and the airport, FedEx asked the airport to move aggressively on buying the fire station, because of the time it can take to relocate public-safety buildings. FedEx hoped to open its hub within four years.
  • Said Fire Chief David Douglas, they knew when the built the station 12 years that the airport would want to buy the property someday. News Record, Mar 24, 30, 1999.
  • 1999, Mar – GCFD has a mixture of career and volunteer members. They protect 12,000 people, and is the primarily source for structural protection at the airport. They are also seriously considering a merger with the city. News Record, Mar 30, 1999.

Plans with City

  • 2000 – Station 19 moved to 6405 Old Oak Ridge Road. New Facility built as joint venture with GCFD and city. By this time, the GCFD district had shrunk from 40 to 11 square miles, with much of the remaining territory consisting of the tax-exempt airport. And thus, GCFD had lost of its remaining fire tax revenue base.
  • 2000 – Old Station 19 site ownership recorded as transferred to airport authority.
  • 2001, April 16 – GCFD merged with City of Greensboro. County Station 19 became GFD Station 17. City takes ownership of all GCFD apparatus and facilities. GCFD employees become GFD employees. 
    Note: Alternate date May 7, 2001, when a contract was executed between GFD and GCFD, for the merger/consolidation to start. Source: http://guilford.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=368&meta_id=39565 
  • 2004 – Old Station 19 on Inman Road and old Station 19 on Old Oak Ridge Road demolished, for FedEx hub construction. Both sections of road also removed, and Old Oak Ridge Road is rerouted slightly north.

Apparatus

  • 1941 Ford/Howe pumper, 500/? – Restored circa 1970 – Disposed to Greensboro.
  • 1940s tanker, ex-military [?] – 1750 gallons
  • 1950s [?] Kaiser-Jeep brush truck
  • 1959 [?] Ford C/Howe pumper/pumper-tanker – Need details
  • 1960s Ford C/____ pumper/pumper-tanker – Need details
  • 1969 Ford C600/Reading rescue – Squad 19 – Disposed to Guilford County [correct?] as first haz-mat truck [correct?]
  • 1973 Ford C/Pierce Telesqurt, 1000/500/200/50-foot – Snorkel 17, then Snorkel 19, then Engine 192 – Sold to Knighdale Public Safety in Wake County.
  • 1974? Dodge/Pierce, 250/250 mini-pumper – [Unit] 197
  • 1976 – Ford C/Pierce pumper – Engine 171 – Sold to Rowen-Iredell FD
  • 1978 – Ford C/Pierce pumper, 1000/500 – Engine 122 – Disposed to Deep River FD.
  • 1982 International/Marion/Ansul Mangum 480, 200/1350# – Chemical 39 at Station 17 on College Road, then Chemical 19 at Station 19 on Old Oak Ridge Road – Disposed to Greensboro.
  • 1982 Pierce tanker – Need more details
  • 1983? Chevy Bonaventure passenger van – Rescue 19 – Sold to Summerfield FD
  • 1985 Pierce dash pumper, 1000/1250/100 – Tanker 194 – Disposed to Climax FD.
  • 1985 Pierce Dash pumper, 1000/1250/30 – Engine 191
  • 1990 Pierce Dash Pumper
  • 1990 Pierce Lance rescue – Disposed to Greensboro.
  • 1991 Duplex D-450/Grumman AerialCat tower, 1500/300/102-feet – Ladder 19 – Sold to Eden, NC
  • Alt. model year 1992
  • 1992? Ford/____ ambulance – Rescue 19 – Used for medical calls, but not equipped for patient transport – Sold to Stokesdale FD.
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Two Alarms on Midway West

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See Legeros photos | Listen to radio traffic

Two alarms were struck Sunday night at 8917 Midway West Road. Dispatched 7:39 p.m. One-story, abandoned modular office building, with approximately 6400 square-feet. Site (8.66 acres) owned by state since 2001, used by DOT for salt storage.

Engine 23 first-arriving, flames showing through roof. Interior attack with three+ hand lines, from Engine 23. Aerial to roof, from Ladder 9. Supply line from hydrant in cul de sac, boosted by Engine 24.

Extra lighting from Rescue 1, in cul de sac. Staging along long driveway, in cul de sac, along Midway West, and in a couple driveways that access the street. Durham Highway third-due, auto-aid.

Second alarm requested for manpower, dispatched ~8:04 p.m. Controlled 8:40 p.m. Wake EMS and Cary EMS with medical monitoring and rehab, in NE corner of parking lot, in front of building. No injuries, no occupants. Cause determined as intentional.

Units on scene included E23, E24, E29, E17, E18, E16, E4, L9, L6, L3, L1, R1, B4, B5, C3, C12 [?] (Safety Officer), DHFD P162, EMS5_, EMS 4_, D4. Run card included additional DHFD and EMS units. Some (three?) of the RFD second-alarm companies released 8:10-8:15 p.m. or abouts. 

First photo above about 8:03 p.m.

See more Legeros photos at https://legeros.smugmug.com/Fire-Photos/2020/2020-09-20-rfd-midway-west-dr 

Listen to radio traffic at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzl7AYT79VU 

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Wake County Fire Commission Virtual Meeting – Thursday, Sep 17, 2020

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The Wake County Fire Commission will hold a virtual version of its regular scheduled meeting on Thursday, September 17, 2020. The meeting 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. 

Agenda

  • Meeting Called to Order: Chairman Keith McGee
    • Invocation
    • Pledge of allegiance
    • Roll of Members Present
  • Items of Business
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of July 16, 2020 Fire Commission Minutes
    • Firefighter’s Association Fire Commission Seat
    • Sub-Committee Appointments
  • Public Comments:
    • Comments emailed in from the public, as directed on the public advertisement on the County Meeting Calendar prior to noon on May 21, 2020, will be emailed to the Fire Commission prior to the meeting. Depending on the number of comments received, the comments may be read by Deputy Director Alford at this time.
  • Regular Agenda
    • Wellness Committee Scope and Kick Off
  • Information Agenda
    • Fire Tax Financial Report
    • Standing Committee Updates
      • Administrative
      • Apparatus
      • Budget
      • Communications
      • Equipment
      • Facility
      • Training
      • Volunteer Recruitment & Retention Committee
    • Chair Report
    • Fire Services Report
  • Other Business
  • Adjournment – Next Meeting – November 19, 2020

View meeting documents.

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Ca-Vel Fire Departments of Stanly and Person Counties

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This content was originally posted in August 2018 on the original blog site. It’s been moved here and expanded with additional content.

September 10, 2020
Here’s a new old photo of the Ca-Vel fire department in Roxboro, from an undated picture posted by Mike Warren to the Facebook group Reminiscing in Roxboro, in this thread. It was re-posted to Legeros Fire Line on Facebook on April 4, 2020. Click to enlarge:

August 1, 2015
Found this vintage fire apparatus photo in Thomas Herman’s book Oren Fire Apparatus Photo Archive (Iconografix, 2010). Gorgeous 1947 General Motors/Oren pumper, serial number 500 A-979. Delivered to the Collins & Aikman textile plant in Norwood, NC. That’s in Stanly County, south of Albemarle.

The author’s caption notes that the overhead rack housed a wooden Bangor ladder and a pair of booster reels were mounted in the back, behind the rear wheels. The truck presently privately owned, the author adds. It still resides in Norwood. Click to enlarge:

Collins & Aikman operated other plants in North Carolina, including in Farmville and Roxboro. We’ve blogged before about the latter location and in context of the Ca-Vel Fire Department. Or CA-Vel, depending upon your spelling. The plant was located three miles north of town.

Continue reading ‘Ca-Vel Fire Departments of Stanly and Person Counties’ »

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Cary’s Third Tiller

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Factory photo of Cary’s new Ladder 8, and third of three Pierce Enforcer tillers. First two were delivered late last year. Should arrive this week. Download the uncropped photo in several sizes at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/piercemfg/50279529201/

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Before You Post That Photo to Facebook

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This a re-posting of archive content, that’s no longer available on the Legeros Blog Archives site due to technical issues. For a related posting, see How to Become a Fire Photographer.

March 6, 2015

Here’s today’s thought exercise. Should you post a fire photo to Facebook, if you’re a member of the department that’s fighting the fire?

Let’s talk through this.

Prelude

Question one. Why Facebook, specifically? Versus elsewhere on social media or other web sites?

To me, Facebook seems like its own animal. So popular, so easily used, so easily misused. It’s also where Yours Truly spends much of his social media time. (Versus a more modest presence on Twitter, and nearly no use of other channels.)

Also, some have reservations or outright apprehension about Facebook. Since fire photos are records of “other people’s lives,” it’s easy to imagine someone saying “I didn’t call the fire department just to see my life posted on Facebook.”

(Now there’s a social experiment worth conducting! Measure public reactions to identical fire photos, as posted on Facebook versus Instagram, Twitter, official web site, or personal web site.)

Question two. Why are talking about firefighters only? Why not all responders, including EMS and law enforcement?

We’re starting simple. Bear with me. We’ll be talking a bit about medical responders, often components of a fire department. Either as first responders or fire-based EMS.

Question three. What about all those fire photos posted by Legeros and Lee Wilson? Or what photojournalists and the “the news” produce? Or just Joe Q. filming from the street corner?

Good question! On one hand, it’s absolutely a different animal. None of those individuals are city/county/agency employers or members. Nor are they responders with real and perceived responsibilities.

On the other hand–at least with the news and our favorite fire photogs—they have their own protocols. They, too, weigh issues such as personal values, employer or sponsor procedures, and the base ethics of their actions.

But back to firefighters…

Shooting Photos versus Posting Photos

We’ll start with semantics. Shooting versus posting.

Every photo posted to Facebook is actually three things:

  • The photo itself.
  • The action of posting the photo.
  • Any caption, commentary, or comments included (or later added) to the photo.

Sometimes simply taking a photo is problematic.

Think about, say, a fire investigator arriving a working structure fire. They hop out of their “red car” and begin snapping pictures for documentation. Bystanders observe this and contrast their actions with the other arriving units. “Why is that guy taking pictures? Why isn’t he going to get a hose?”

Sometimes taking a photo is “okay”, but posting is a problem.

Responders may take pictures for internal use of severe accidents involving fatalities, such as an extended extrication or complicated technical rescue. (They’re particularly good training tools.) But if those photos are shown to the public, the response by the public is usually negative.

Sometimes both taking and posting a photo is fine, but captions or comments cause problems.

There’s a world of difference between the picture of a house fire with the caption “Engine 50 fought a fire today” versus such captions as “Strong work by Engine 50 today” (good) or “Good day for a barbecue” (bad).

Posting Photos Officially

Let’s define “official photo” as any picture that a fire department releases for public consumption. And, for our purposes, also posts to Facebook. Could be a picture taken by a civilian. Could be a donated news photo. Most likely it’s a picture taken by a member of the department. 

When should you post or not post a photo from an incident? Here’s my take, based both on (a.) my approach to posting scene pictures and (b.) what I’ve observed as posted by fire departments to Facebook.

Continue reading ‘Before You Post That Photo to Facebook’ »

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Warrenton Fire Department History Notes

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June 30, 2021
Updated posting, with new information including the builder of the 1890s hand engine, and the fact that the 1987 E-One platform did -not- serve WFD, but, instead, was placed in service with Warrenton Rural FD, and delivered after WFD merged with WRFD in 2004. 

August 27, 2020
This week the Town of Warrenton (NC) announced on Facebook that the Plummer Hook & Ladder Museum (not yet open to the public) had a new addition, their second piece of antique apparatus: the town’s old 1982 American LaFrance Century pumper, 1250/1000/25F . The engine originally served Austin, TX, and was equipped with a 500-gallon tank. Purchased by the town in the late 1990s/early 2000s.

It was [the lone town truck] in operation when the municipal (and all-black) WFD ceased operation in 2004. [By that time, the town had also purchased a] 1987 E-One Hurricane rear-mount platform, 1250/200/95-foot, that formerly served Orange County FL, [which had yet to be delivered. It was purchased through Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus, through the 2003 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.]

[The 1982 American LaFrance] was disposed to Warrenton Rural FD, which currently protects the town. It later received a 1000-gallon tank.

Top picture by Legeros from 2013.

Historical Perspectives

Continue reading ‘Warrenton Fire Department History Notes’ »

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The (Complete) History of the Cary/Yrac Split

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What’s the (complete) history of the Cary/Yrac split in the early 1960s, that created a second fire department for calls outside of town? Have lately found conflicting accounts. Let’s take a (long) look.

Earlier Summaries

Legeros in 2003, from his Raleigh & Wake County Firefighting [Volume I], wrote the following:

“In 1961, the Cary fire department became two fire departments: one operated by the Town and another run by rural residents who rejected the Town’s proposed fees for fire protection. The newly created district was named Yrac, which later became the name of the fire department.”

That’s a good starting point. Let’s go backward in time, to some earlier recaps. Here’s what retired Cary Fire Chief Ned Perry recounted in a 1997 history:

“[In 1960, the] Cary Rural Volunteer Fire Department was divided into two separate fire departments. The division was made to formally create the Cary Fire Department. The Cary Rural Volunteer Fire Department had responded to all emergency calls in the Cary Area, including those areas in the Town limits and those calls that were outside of the Town limits. After the division of the Cary Rural Volunteer Fire Department, the rural department changed its name to the YRAC Fire Department. (YRAC is CARY spelled backwards.) After the division the Cary Fire Department was responsible for all calls inside the Town limits and YRAC Fire Department responded to all alarms outside of the Town limits.”

Also in 1997, a similar summary was included in a Cary FD souvenir booklet:

“On September 15, 1960, a division was made to formally create the Cary Fire Department. Before this date the fire department was known as the Cary Rural Volunteer Fire Department. This department responded to any call in the Cary area. After the division, the Cary Fire Department was responsible for any calls within the Cary town limits and the rural department was responsible for any call outside the town limits . The Cary Rural (YRAC) Volunteer Fire Department is still responsible for some areas outside the Cary town limits today and assists the Cary Fire Department when needed.”

But what were the motivating factors behind that split? Let’s build a timeline and see what we find…

Short Version

  • 1952 – Cary FD reorganized, reborn.
  • 1953 – Modern pumper delivered, first annual Fireman’s day, etc. 
  • 1953 – Cary FD incorporated as private corporation, Cary Rural FD, Inc.
  • 1956 – By this time, Civil Defense rescue services added, plus two tankers.
  • 1957 – County creates rural fire district, for areas outside town limits. CRFD now gets $100 per month.
  • 1958 – County approves renaming Cary Rural Fire District district to Yrac Rural Fire District, e.g. Cary spelled backwards.
  • 1960, Jun – CRFD member Vernon Thompson killed when the 1954 shop-built tractor-drawn tanker overturns.
  • 1960, Jul – Three weeks after the accident, CRFD members request, then demand liability insurance from town. In one heated meeting, some threaten to resign.
  • 1960, Aug – Insurance issue raises questions and considerations of governance. After meetings and committees, the Mayor recommends (a.) providing insurance and (b.) creating a town-run FD, with full-time fire chief.
  • 1960, Aug – Special committee on matter issues report with recommendation to, instead, create town-run CFD but with volunteer fire chief, and separate town and rural sections.
  • 1960, Sep – Town Board approves committee recommendations, new organization takes effect September 15.
  • 1961, May – County funding to rural department interrupted, due to administrative issues. Soon resumed.
  • 1961, Jul – County approves Yrac Rural Fire District changes, adjusting for new Fairgrounds and Swift Creek FD districts.
  • 1961, Sep – Something changes, and Cary’s rural fire protection is in jeopardy. And/or, town wants to begin charging rural residents for the service.
  • 1961, Sep – Rural citizens meet and approve forming their own fire department.
  • 1961, Nov – Yrac Rural FD Inc. created, using the assets of Cary Rural FD Inc., which was then the rural-serving section of the Cary FD.
  • 1961, Dec – YRFD approves giving all assets and monies to town, except for one Ford F3 truck, unequipped, and a 1956 shop-built International tanker plus equipment, and $1,500 of their funds, kept for themselves.
  • 1961, Dec – YRFD begins operation on December 1, from a rented building on Cedar Street.
  • 1962, Jan – YRFD starts membership drive for funding. However, over the years, they need a better source of revenue. They then pursue a tax levy. 
  • 1962, May – New pumper delivered, 1961 Chevy/American LaFrance. 
  • 1962, May – Tenth annual Cary Fireman’s Day now sponsored by YRFD instead of CFD. This becomes a permanent change. 
  • 1962, Oct – Second tanker added.
  • 1964, Dec – Resides vote in special election and approve creating a fire tax district, to properly fund YRFD. Department has three trucks, 24 volunteers, and an HQ in a rented building on Cedar Street. 
  • And everybody lived happily ever after.

Long Version

Pre-History Continue reading ‘The (Complete) History of the Cary/Yrac Split’ »

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