Ocracoke Island Fireworks Truck Explosion – July 4, 2009

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This is part three of a multi-part series about fireworks incidents and disasters in North Carolina. Read others: Part 1  | Part 2 

Part 3 – Ocracoke Island Fireworks Truck Explosion – July 4, 2009

See source materials in this Google Drive folder.

On Saturday, July 4, 2009, around 8:00 a.m., a five-person crew from a South Carolina fireworks company was preparing for Ocracoke’s annual Independence Day display. They were inside and beside a box truck that was parked on the south end of the island, close to the ferry terminal and Anchorage Marina.

In preparation for the evening’s show, four workers under the direction of the Chief Pyrotechnician were preparing the fireworks by inserting electric matches into the fuses of shells inside a truck that contained 680 pounds (net explosive mass) of pyrotechnics. A small ignition event occurred and triggered a mass explosion.

One of the workers was killed instantly. The other four were airlifted from the scene to hospitals, including Pitt Memorial in Greenville and the Jaycee Burn Center in Chapel Hill.

Incident Report, Two Days Later

On July 6, 2009, Hyde County’s board of commissioners received a special report on the explosion. The minutes recorded:

“Commissioner Ballance reported on the Ocracoke Fireworks Explosion on Saturday, July 4, stating that four victims were airlifted from the scene. Mr. Ballance commended everyone who participated in the emergency rescue, firefighting, and clean up. Ocracoke Volunteer Firemen David Warren and Tony Spencer took control of the scene and provided excellent assistance. Fire Chief Albert O’Neal and Ocracoke Firemen, Ocracoke Medical Center Staff, Hyde County EMS Paramedics and EMTs, and several vacationing doctors and nurses were among the list of volunteers recognized by Mr. Ballance.”

“Interim Emergency Services Director Jane Hodges reported that Paramedic/Fireman David Warren and Pastor Joyce Reynolds were hospitalized due to smoke inhalation. Pastor Reynolds was treated and released on Saturday. Mr. Warren was released on Sunday afternoon.”

“Ms. Hodges reported that David Warren’s forethought and quick response (after being thrown against a fire truck) saved lives.” [ Does that mean that an OVFD fire truck and personnel were already at the site, standing by? ]

“She commended the medics who assisted with the rescue; Jamie Tunnell who handled public information; Ponzer Volunteer Fire Department members Dean Armstrong and Wayne Pugh who flew in supplies to the Island; Medical Directors Charles Boyette who retrieved supplies and medications; and Mainland Paramedic Sean Burke who assisted with flying in narcotics.”

The Victims

Martez Holland, 27, suffered burns to 20 percent of his body, mainly hands, arms, and face.

Terry Holland, 51, died at the hospital. He was from Goldsboro.

Charles Kirkland Jr., 49, killed in the explosion. He was from Goldsboro.

Lisa Simmons, 41, died at the hospital. She was from Goldsboro.

Mark Hill, age 21, died at the hospital. He was from Wayne County.

Investigation Report

On August 26, 2009, the Virginian-Pilot reported on the findings of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives:

“According to the report, a driver parked the truck filled with explosives and left, leaving the five behind to set up the fireworks. The crew was pushing electric igniters into the fireworks’ “tails” in preparation for that night’s show when a small explosion led to a larger explosion, the report said.”

“The ATF report calls the explosion accidental. An investigation by the state Department of Labor is expected to conclude within four months.”

The surviving crew member gave conflicting accounts about why they were performing those actions inside the truck. He first said they were working inside the truck because the fire department had wet the ground around the truck. He later said he was uncertain why they were working inside the truck.

Then What Happened?

Ocracoke Island officials cancelled the annual display indefinitely. No fireworks displays were conducted from 2009 to 2015. The event returned in 2016, under new procedures and with the show set up at a different location.

The explosion prompted statewide legislative action. Later in 2009, the North Carolina General Assembly enacted Senate Bill 563, establishing mandatory training and permitting requirements for pyrotechnic personnel under the supervision of State Fire Marshal-licensed display operators. It became effective February 1, 2010.

Readers in pyrotechnics, code enforcement, and/or emergency management, what were some other outcomes of the incident that are still felt today?

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Drownings at Raleigh Beach

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Presenting a list of drowning victims at Raleigh Beach, a popular swimming and fishing spot on the Neuse River, on the border of Raleigh and Knightdale. 

Total 28 known drowning victims. 

1930 to 1969

2 victims – 1930-07-22 – Two teenagers drowned during an outing with a larger group. The girl, 16, had waded into waist-deep water and started screaming for help. The boy, 18, entered the “swift currents” to rescue her. But she “clutched him so frantically” that both drowned before others could reach them. [N&O, 7/23/30]

1 victim – 1933-09-09 – Teenage girl, 18, drowned after stepping into a deep hole while wading just below the dam. Her body was recovered five hours later. [N&O, 9/10/33]

1 victim – 1950-08-27 – Man, 46, drowned while swimming in the river near the railroad trestle, after suffering cramps while swimming. [N&O, 8/28/50]

1 victim – 1952-09-01 – Man drowned after a fishing boat capsized about two miles upstream from Milburnie Dam. The victim’s two companions were able to reach the shore. The victim was recovered one week later, about 75 feet above the dam. [MJL] [N&O, 9/9/52]

1 victim – 1954-07-03 – Man, 47, drowned while trying to free a snagged fishing hook of another person, about 5:30 p.m. Raleigh Rescue recovered the body within five minutes of arriving, but artificial respiration was unsuccessful because the victim had been in the water for about 35 minutes. Was the eighth drowning of the year in Wake County. [MJL] [N&O, 7/4/54]

1 victim – 1963-07-07 – Boy, 6, drowned while swimming at the base of the dam, and after two others were rescued from the river’s strong currents. Occurred on a Sunday afternoon. [MJL] [N&O, 7/8/63]

1 victim – 1964-04-29 – Man, 38, drowned while swimming with a companion at the dam about 10:35 a.m. His body was recovered at 2:45 p.m., more than 100 yards downstream. [MJL] [N&O, 4/30/64]

1970 to 1999

1 victim – 1970-05-18 – Girl, 12, drowned after falling into the river below the dam about 7:30 p.m. At the time of the incident, the river was too swift to launch a boat, and rescue operations were postponed until the morning. [MJL] [N&O, 5/19/70, 5/20/70]

1 victim – 1970-09-05 – Man, 31, while fishing at Raleigh Beach near the old dam. He was apparently trying to cross the water behind the dam when he fell into a deep hole about 4:45 p.m. [MJL] [N&O, 9/6/70]

2 victims – 1973-07-01 – Two men, 24 and 25, drowned after riding a makeshift raft created from three inflated truck tire inner tubes upstream from the dam. They were caught in the current and swept under the falls. Their companion was rescued, climbing to a tree limb. The accident occurred on a Sunday night. Subsequent search attempts were impacted, because the current was too strong on the rain-swollen river to enable rescue boats to be deployed. One body was recovered two days later, near the dam. The second body was recovered at the Highway 64 bridge, on the third morning after the accident. [MJL] [N&O, 7/2/73, 7/3/73, 7/5/73]

1 victim – 1973-08-15 – Man, 40, drowned in the river below the dam about 8:30 p.m. Witnesses said he had been fishing and decided to “take a little swim.” His body was recovered about 11:00 a.m. the next day. [MJL] [N&O, 8/16/73]

1 victim – 1973-08-?? – Man, 19, drowned after he and two others were swimming in the water above the dam, and he and a second youth were caught in strong currents and pulled over the dam. During the subsequent dragging operations the following day, one of the rescue boats overturned and a second rescue boat almost overturned. The rescuers were pulled from the water safely. [MJL] [WW, 8/9/73]

1 victim – 1977-05-14 – Man, 24, drowned after diving into the water at Raleigh Beach, about 6:00 p.m. Seven rescue boats searched the waters until dark. The next morning his body was recovered about 10:30 a.m.. [MJL] [N&O, 5/16/77, GLF, 5/19/77]

1 victim – 1979-05-17 – Man, 20, drowned after he and a friend were swept off a ledge below the dam, while setting out a fishing net in water about waist deep. [AP/Sentinel, 5/18/79]

1 victim – 1987-06-21 – Adult woman drowned, after her two children who were playing on the beach walked off a steep slope and into water over their heads. Bystanders pulled the children to safety, but their mother drowned trying to save them. [N&O, 6/23/87]

2000 to 2026

2 victims – 2008-07-09 – Two young men drowned at the dam, each 21 years old. They and a third person had gone swimming about 2:00 a.m. The victims had been drinking. [N&O, 7/10/08]

2 victims – 2012-07-16 – Two children who were cousins drowned at the dam, ages seven (boy) and ten (girl). They were fishing with family members when they entered the water and were pulled under by strong current. They were recovered about 20 yards downstream. [N&O, 7/17/12]

1 victim – 2024-05-22 – Man in his 20s drowned near the Neuse River Greenway Trail/Loch Raven Parkway. [CBS17, 6/9/24]

1 victim – 2024-06-08 – Man drowned while swimming with family; went under and never resurfaced. Was reported about 4:00 p.m. and his body was recovered about 8:50 p.m. [WRAL, 6/10/24]

1 victim – 2024-07-21 – Man, 32, drowned at Raleigh Beach; recovered after a two-hour search. [WRAL, 7/23/24]

1 victim – 2024-07-23 – Man, 59, drowned near Raleigh Beach; recovered after a 10-hour search. City subsequently closed vehicle access to the parking lot. Second death in three days. [WRAL, 7/25/24]

1 victim – 2025-06-14 – Man, 39, drowned at Raleigh Beach about 4:30 p.m.; recovered after about a two hour search. [ABC11, 6/15/25]

1 victim – 2026-07-08 – Girl, 12, was swimming and went underwater about 11:30 a.m. and did not surface. She was pulled from the water and died at the hospital. [ABC11, 7/8/26]

1 victim – 2026-08-03 – Body of a man was discovered near Raleigh Beach. Officials had opened a death investigation. [WRAL, 8/3/26]

Abbreviations

GLF – Gold Leaf Farmer

MJL – Legeros research on Drownings in Wake County – 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, https://legeros.com/blog/rescue-squads-drownings

N&O – News and Observer

WW – Wake Weekly

Sources

See news clippings in this Google Drive folder, which includes articles about other Wake County drownings.

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Wanted – Lists of Fire Alarm Box Locations

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Got alarm box lists? Been meaning to build this, repository of alarm box listings from around North Carolina. Here’s our starter collection. Drop a line, send a message, will take anything/everything. No hurry. Thanks in advance.

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Asheville Fireworks Store Explosion – December 24, 1936

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This is part two of a multi-part series about fireworks incidents and disasters in North Carolina. Read others: Part 1 | Part 3

Part 2 – Asheville Fireworks Store Explosion – December 24, 1936

See source materials in this Google Drive folder.

Asheville Fireworks Store Explosion
December 24, 1936

On Christmas Eve, 1936, around 10:13 p.m., a fireworks store at 25 Broadway Street in downtown Asheville exploded. Two people were killed and 11 others were injured. It occurred in a retail area that was busy with shoppers finishing their holiday shopping.

The explosion was followed by a series of smaller blasts that continued for several minutes, reported the next day’s Asheville Citizen. The first explosion “blew several persons in the store out into the street.” Those outside the building said the blast “almost knocked them to their feet.”

The Asheville Fire Department received the first alarm at 10:13 p.m. A general alarm followed, with seven of the city’s eight fire companies responding to the scene. They included the units from Station 1, just up the block at Pack Square.

Continue reading ‘Asheville Fireworks Store Explosion – December 24, 1936’ »

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Topsail Island Pier Fire – May 17, 1984

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This is a blog version of a Facebook posting from July 28, 2026. See the source posting for many reader memories. 

Evening history. More Topsail Island. Let’s go back to Thursday, May 17, 1984, and the fire that destroyed Paradise Pier on West Onslow Beach.

Built in [goes here], the 650-foot long pier was a landmark on the north end of the island.

The fire was reported at 6:53 p.m. by a woman at a nearby campground. It started in the tackle shop/snack bar, near two refrigerator units, witnesses later recalled.

Reported the next day’s Wilmington Star-News, “winds from the north clocked at 10 to 15 mph quickly sent the flames racing along the pier.”

Men and women who were fishing were trapped by the fire and jumped into the ocean. Reported the next day’s Jacksonville Daily News, surfers helped as many as eight anglers to shore.

Continue reading ‘Topsail Island Pier Fire – May 17, 1984’ »

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Topsail Island (and More) Fire and Rescue History

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Presenting a history of fire and rescue services on Topsail Island as well as selected nearby fire and rescue departments in Pender and Onslow counties. 

View visual history: JPG | PDF

Read research notes (PDF)

View various newspaper clippings in this Google Drive folder.

Web page home page

Social Postings

Short Version

  • 1961, Jun – Topsail Island Rescue Squad operating by this time.
  • 1962, Jan 30 – Pender County Rescue Squad, Inc. incorporated.
  • 1966, Sep 15 – Topsail Island Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. incorporated.
  • 1967, May 31 – Sneads Ferry Rescue Squad, Inc. incorporated.
  • 1969, Dec 5 – Topsail Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad, Inc. incorporated.
  • 1971, Aug 23 – Topsail Beach RS renamed Topsail Beach Fire and Rescue, Inc.
  • 1973, Apr, circa – Topsail Beach Fire Department created as a town department.
  • 1973, Apr 24 – Topsail Beach F&R renamed Topsail Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad, Inc.
  • 1974, May 6  – Topsail Island VFD renamed Surf City Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.
  • 1975, Dec 1 – West Onslow Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad, Inc. chartered.
  • 1976, Jun – Surf City Volunteer Rescue Squad, Inc. organized.
  • 1977, Oct 3 – Scotts Hill Fire Department, Inc. incorporated.
  • 1978, Aug 25 – Hampstead Fire Department and Sloop Point Rescue merged and created Hampstead Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad, Inc.
  • 1980 or 1981 – West Onslow Beach RS stopped operating.
  • 1981, Apr 17 – Union Rescue Squad, Inc. incorporated.
  • 1983, Mar 17 – Hampstead Volunteer Rescue Squad, Inc. incorporated. Group separated from Hampstead Fire and Rescue.
  • 1984, Jul 23 – Hampstead RS renamed Pender East Volunteer Rescue Squad, Inc.
  • 1985, Jan 1 – Surf City VFD stopped answering calls to West Onslow Beach.
  • 1985, May 1 – West Onslow Beach Volunteer Fire & Rescue Departments, Inc. incorporated.
  • 1989, Aug 18 – Surf City RS renamed Surf City Emergency Medical Services, Inc.
  • 1990, Nov 21 – Topsail Beach RS renamed Topsail Beach Emergency Medical Services, Inc.
  • 1991, Apr 8 – West Onslow Beach FD changed named to North Topsail Beach Volunteer Rescue and EMS, Inc.
  • 1992, Feb 1 – Scotts Hill FD ceased operating.
  • 1993, Oct 6 – Municipal Surf City Fire Department was operational by this date.
  • 1993, Oct 6 – Effective date that the town’s contract with SCVFD ended.
  • 1994, Feb – Surf City town officials decided to end the municipal structure surrounding Surf City FD, and contract with the volunteer members instead.
  • 1994, Feb – Treasure Coast Fire Department, Inc. incorporated. Organized by members of the former municipal fire department, so the town could contract with them.
  • 1994, May 12 – News reported that Surf City town council last week terminated the services of Treasure Coast FD and resumed contracted fire protection from Surf City VFD.
  • 1999 – Pender East RS renamed Pender East Rescue & EMS, Inc.
  • 1999, Jul 1 – Second iteration of municipal Surf City FD began operating.
  • 1999, Jul 6 – Topsail Beach EMS merged with Pender East Rescue & EMS.
  • 2002, Oct 1 – Pender East Rescue & EMS and Pender County RS merged to create Pender Volunteer EMS & Rescue, Inc.
  • 2013, Jun 30 – Pender EMS & Fire, Inc. created. The Pender EMS corporation was renamed on July 11, 2013, and three corporations were merged into it: Sloop Point Volunteer Fire Department, Inc., Long Creek Grady Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Inc., and Hampstead Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Inc. An invitation had been extended to Surf City VFD, but they didn’t meet deadlines for the merger. County officials planned to dissolve SCVFD.
  • 2013, July or later – Surf City VFD ceased operation. Assets later transferred to Pender EMS & Fire. 
  • 2013, Jul 19 – Sneads Ferry RS merged with Sneads Ferry FD and both merged into Turkey Creek Fire and Rescue.
  • 2022, Jan 31 – North Topsail Beach RS renamed North Topsail Beach Firefighters Association.
  • 2025, Jun 16 – County officials approved the merger of Pender EMS & Fire, Penderlea FD, and Maple Hill FD and the county.
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Durham Fire Department Changes – January 2026

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This is a blog version of a Facebook posting from December 29, 2025.

Effective January 2, 2026, the Durham Fire Department made a number of operational changes, including activating a new engine company, changing a quint company to a ladder company, and relocating three ladder companies along with other units. 

Summary

  1. New fire company activated, Engine 7. First new DFD company added since 2019. It replaces Quint 7.
  2. New ladder company activated, Ladder 7, formerly Quint 7. The quint company will be redesignated as a ladder company.
  3. Squad 7 deactivated. Its personnel will be assigned to Engine 7. it will be reactivated at a TBD location in the future, after the current academy graduates.
  4. Three ladder companies moved:
    Ladder 6 (at FS6) now Ladder 18 (at FS18)
    Ladder 12 (at FS12) now Ladder 4 (at FS4)
    Ladder 17 (at FS17) now Ladder 13 (at FS13)
  5. Other company moves:
    Quint 19 (at FS19) now Quint 8 (at FS8)
    Engine 8 (at FS8) now Engine 19 (at FS19)
    Squad 4 relocated from FS4 to FS12. No unit number change.
    Haz-Mat 13 relocated from FS13 to FS17. No unit number change.

About the Changes

As noted in a press conference on December 29, 2025, the changes were in response to the city’s ever-changing landscape. The goal of the changes was to reduce response time and improve the DFD service delivery in a number of ways.

First, it would improve their effective response force (ERF). Second, it would provide better specialized service coverage, by optimizing ladder company locations. It would equalize their workload with a better distribution of responses across their companies and units.

Shown are before/after ladder locations overlaid with heatmaps of incident locations. 

Department Snapshot

Effective January 2, 2026:

17 engine companies
6 ladder companies
2 quint companies
2 squad companies
1 rescue company
2 tankers (one FF) (correct?)
1 mobile support unit (one FF)
4 battalion chiefs

Cross-staffed special units, including:
Water Rescue 8
USAR 80
Haz-Mat 13
Haz-Mat 16
Brush 15
Brush 18
Technical Rescue 2 

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Visual History of Raleigh Fire Station Relocations

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Presenting a visual history of all Raleigh Fire Department fire station relocations. 

Sources: 

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Holly Shelter Forest Fire – May 1986

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Remembering the major wildland fire in May 1986, that burned some 73,000 acres in the Holly Shelter area of Pender county, and during a period of severe drought. One of North Carolina’s largest wildfires of the decade, it threatened numerous homes and closed portions of U.S. 17 and N.C. 210. It required extensive use of bulldozers, airtankers, helicopters, and structural protection, with help from Camp Lejeune Marines and prison inmate crews. Dense smoke affected visibility throughout southeastern North Carolina, including Wilmington, and underground fuels made suppression exceptionally difficult.

Here’s a Google Drive folder with Jacksonville Daily News coverage.

Below is an extended summary of the fire created by ChatGPT + Legeros annotations, based on the clippings.  

Chronology of the May 1986 Holly Shelter Fire

May 5–8, 1986 – Fire Ignites and Rapidly Expands

The wildfire began in the Holly Shelter area of Pender County during an extended drought. Dry pocosin vegetation, dense brush, and peat soils allowed the fire to spread rapidly despite initial suppression efforts. Within days it had grown into one of the largest fires in North Carolina, threatening communities along U.S. 17 and N.C. 210.

Firefighters quickly realized this would not be a routine forest fire. Numerous local volunteer fire departments joined the North Carolina Forest Service, and additional resources were requested from surrounding counties and state agencies.

Continue reading ‘Holly Shelter Forest Fire – May 1986’ »

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