Piedmont Flight 22 and the Midair Collision Over Hendersonville – July 19, 1967

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Read retrospective and research notes from 2017 (103M, PDF)

See other photos, clippings, and the NTSB report in this Google Drive folder.

Introduction

Looking back at the deadliest plane crash in North Carolina history, when 82 people were killed on Wednesday, July 19, 1967, after Piedmont Flight 22 collided with a Cessna 310 and both crashed in Hendersonville, NC.

Piedmont Flight 22 was flying a Boeing 727 with 79 souls aboard. It had taken off from Asheville Municipal Airport at 11:58 a.m., heading to Roanoke VA. One minute later, it collided with a twin-engine Cessna 310 that was approaching for landing. There where three people aboard the second plane, which had been chartered from Springfield, MO.  

They were flying 6,132 feet and eight miles southeast of the airport when they collided at 11:59 a.m. Both were operating under instrument flight rules. The planes crashed just south of the intersection of Interstate 26 and Highway 64. The crash site was just 200 feet from the interstate. [AC, 7/20/67]

The main parts of the passenger jet landed in a wooded area at Camp Pinewood, a private summer camp for children near Interstate 26. It burst into flames upon impact. The crash site was near the camp’s archery rang, and near the camp’s trash dump. [WSJ, 7/20/67]

Other debris fell in nearby neighborhoods. One young girl was hit by debris at her home on Highway 64 about a mile from the crash site. She was not hospitalized. [AC, 7/20/67]

The wreckage of the two planes was spread over an area 1.5 miles long and a half-mile wide, along a path to the north and northwest of the impact point. The passenger jet was upside down when it struck the ground. The Cessna was severely fragment and only one identifiable portion was found at the main wreckage site. [NTSB]

 

Continue reading ‘Piedmont Flight 22 and the Midair Collision Over Hendersonville – July 19, 1967’ »

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Lynn Road Fire Station – End of an Era

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Another milestone happened on July 1, 2025, in Wake County, when Northern Wake Fire Department ended operations at Station 5 at 1431 Lynn Road, at a facility co-located with Wake County EMS. 

The station’s response area was redistricted effective that date, with 27 first-due parcels reassigned to Durham Highway and Western Wake fire departments. NWFD Engine 51 (unstaffed) was housed on Lynn Road. Here’s a posting from April 26 about the redistricting. 

Thus ended the building’s 51-year life as a fire station.

The History

The Lynn Road fire/rescue/EMS station was originally erected by the Six Forks Volunteer Fire Department, relocating in 1974 from 5305 Six Forks Road.

In 1976, Six Forks Rescue Squad was organized by members of the fire department. They were later named Six Forks EMS.

In 2002, Six Forks VFD merged with Bay Leaf VFD, and the building became Bay Leaf Station 3.

In 2011, Six Forks EMS ceased operation and Wake County EMS took over.

In 2017, Bay Leaf VFD and Stony Hill VFD merged to form Northern Wake FD, and the building became Northern Wake Station 5.

The building is now exclusively operated as a Wake County EMS station.

Read More History

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Garner and Rolesville Municipal Mergers

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Congratulations to Garner Fire Department and Rolesville Fire Department. Effective July 1, 2025, each merged with their respective municipalities, Town of Garner, NC Government and Town of Rolesville, NC. Congrats to all.

They’re two of oldest community fire departments in Wake County. Garner FD was organized in 1952, with a small group of volunteers, a 1941 Ford auxiliary truck from Durham (and later sold to Harrells in Sampson County), and a used-car garage as their first station.

Rolesville Rural FD was organized in 1958, with their own volunteers and a 1958 Chevy/American pumper (still on the roster) and a military surplus truck-turned-tanker. They stored their pumper in the Rolesville Amoco Station.

The Garner merger was several years in the making, with milestones including the town contracting with a consultant in January 2021 to study the issue, the town passing a resolution proposing unification in May 2024, and the town approving the final merger agreement in March 2025. 

The Rolesville merger dates to 2021, when the fire department and the town started meeting collaboratively on the subject. In May 2024, the town adopted a unification resolution. Read more about the Rolesville merger. 

Looking Back

Historical photos of Garner FD, via Raleigh Fire Museum.

Historical photos of Rolesville Rural FD, also via RFM.

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Sedge Garden Fire Department / Triangle Fire Department History

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Looking back at the Sedge Garden FD in Forsyth County. Photo from the Winston-Salem Journal, November 14, 1999.

They were organized by the Sedge Garden Civic Club and started operating in 1951. Though the project may have been suggested as early as 1949.[1] They were the first community fire department in Forsyth County.

They bought a 29-year-old old engine from Winston-Salem, likely the 1922 American LaFrance Type 75, 750 GPM, reg #3844. (It was cited as a 1921 model in the WSJ on August 30, 1953.)

It was parked at Milam’s Service Station. And from the photo, they soon added a 1941-47 Dodge COE tanker.

SGFD answered their first fire call on March 27, 1951, a grass fire at Parkview. They had been in the “process of being organized” for about a month. Robah Thomas was the fire chief.

And on April 10, 1951, installation of a “centrally-located alarm whistle” was completed. Their response area was divided into four zones, with teams of firefighters named for each.

[1] Decades later 1949 was remembered as the organization year. Maybe a false start that fizzled?

Then What Happened? Continue reading ‘Sedge Garden Fire Department / Triangle Fire Department History’ »

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McCain Sanatorium Fire Department History

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Looking back at McCain Sanatorium in Hoke County, which added a fire truck in early 1952, reported the Raleigh News & Observer on February 17, 1952.

It was built out of “begging, bolts, screws, and the ingenuity of its driver, Paul Cloer,” who was the maintenance chief at the facility. Using a “junkyard truck chassis” he add a “red signal light” from a funeral home that was trading an ambulance, a siren from a deputy sheriff, and a motor from an auto dealer that he turned into a 250-gallon booster.

The new truck replaced an antique “three-wheel job that would scarcely extinguish a match flame.” It cost $660, versus the $14,000 to $15,000 cost of a new fire engine.

McCain Sanatorium was one of three in the state and was expanding its capacity, with the addition of 80 more beds to increase the capacity to 680. There was a new nursing home, new employee housing, and other improvements.

Originally named the North Carolina State Sanatorium in 1908, it was the first state institution for the treatment of tuberculosis. It was later renamed for Dr. Paul P. McCain, who served as its superintendent from 1924 to 1926.

As TB rates declined, the facility was repurposed as a corrections facility, as a minimum-security healthcare center for male inmates. The facility was permanently closed in 2010.

McCain Prison Hospital also had a fire department, and it was listed in the state department of insurance directory in 1982. 

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Raleigh Fire Department – Plans, Reports, and Studies

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Last week, the newly completed Raleigh Fire Department Master Plan was presented to city council, a consultant’s report commissioned last year. What’s the historical perspective on such documents? There have been many. Here are the ones that we know about:

Also, there were reports from the National Board of Fire Underwriters. Those were slightly different animals:

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Two Alarms on Harbor Drive

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See Legeros photos | Listen to radio traffic

Two alarms were struck at 7809 Harbor Drive, off Sawmill Road, on July 5, 2025. However, the second alarm assignment was soon cancelled. 

Dispatched ~10:21 p.m. for E4 E18 E16 E15 L15 L22 Sq14 B5 B3.[1]

[1] Squad 14 as rescue unit, as Rescue 16 had been dispatched two minutes earlier to a reported structure fire in Engine 24’s territory.

Two-story, single-family dwelling with 3,053 square-feet, including full basement.[2] Built 1983. Dispatch with multiple callers reporting smoke and flames.

[2] Structure had separate attic spaces over the main house and the garage area, firefighters later discovered.

Engine 4 first-arriving with heavy fire in the rear of the structure, including a boat on a trailer that was burning. Extension into the attic and through the roof within minutes.

First line inside, second line to outside rear, then taken inside. Third line also inside. Fourth? bumper line also pulled. Engine 18 boosting at hydrant past the house.

One injured firefighter reported ~10:37 p.m. Second alarm requested ~10:38 p.m. Staging at Sawmill and Harbor.

Second alarm units cancelled ~10:42 p.m. Injured firefighter was located.

Controlled ~11:05 p.m. Two additional engines, non-emergency, requested for relief at control time.

One firefighter injured, noted news reports, with a sprained ankle. One feline rescued and treated. Three people displaced.

Run card included:

  • 1st alarm – E4 E18 E16 E15 L15 L22 Sq14 B5 B3
  • Added – L4
  • Added – L6
  • Working Fire – A28 B2 INV1 DC1
  • Added – R16
  • 2nd alarm – E9 E17 E23 L23 L1 (cancelled)
  • Special call – E9, E17 (two engines for relief)
  • Medical – M44 M12 M32 M64 D1 D3 D9
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Raleigh Fire Department Master Plan

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On Tuesday, July 1, 2025, city council received a presentation on the recently completed Raleigh Fire Department Master Plan, a consultant’s report and recommendations that was commissioned in April 2024. The plan presents a roadmap for the city and RFD for the next 25 years.

About the Study

The master plan was created as joint project by Darkhorse Emergency and North Carolina Fire Chief Consulting.

Read a city news release about the study.

Notes and Thoughts Continue reading ‘Raleigh Fire Department Master Plan’ »

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Relocating Fire Station 1 – Update – July 2025

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This is an ongoing blog posting about relocating Raleigh Fire Station 1. See also the  official project site. 

Contents

  • Jul 2025 – Conceptual Site Plan
  • Feb 2025 – Documents and Permits
  • Dec 2024 – Professional Services Awarded
  • Aug 2024 – Design Services Awarded
  • Feb 2024 – Site Selected, Project Restarted
  • May 2020 – Project on Hold
  • Nov 2019 – Conceptual Rendering
  • July 2018 – Project Update
  • Aug 2017 – Project Update
  • May 2016 – Funding for Station Relocation
  • Aug 2015 – Station Relocation Objective

July 2025 – Conceptual Site Plan

This conceptual site plan was presented to city council on July 1, 2025, as part of an update on downtown projects from the City Manager’s office. The project is currently in the concept design phase, and has added a “public safety-themed playground” as a design amendment.

February 2025 – Documents and Permits

On August 20, 2024, City Council approved a consent agenda that included authorization for the city manager to execute certain documents and permits as related to the design and permitting process. 

The agenda item included this project description:  “The new Fire Station No. 1 will be located at the intersection of Salisbury Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard at 820 S Salisbury Street.  The new facility will replace the current facilities for Fire Station No. 1 (Dawson Street), Fire Administration (Dillon Building), and backup 911 program services (Raleigh Municipal Building). The new fire station will accommodate the City’s growing needs and provide facility upgrades for the wellness and safety of fire personnel.  This will be a critical emergency response facility that will house two (2) engine companies, one (1) ladder company, and one (1) battalion chief.”

View agenda item.

Project site – March 4, 2025

December 2024 – Professional Services Awarded Continue reading ‘Relocating Fire Station 1 – Update – July 2025’ »

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Albemarle Rescue Squad, 1953

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Stanly County history hit. The Albemarle Rescue and First Aid Company was using this truck in February 1953, reported the Stanley News and Press on February 27. The new truck had “already answered several calls” after having “just received the final touches, as far as equipment was concerned.”

The truck was purchased as a result of a Lions Club project, with help from other civic groups. It’s kept at the main fire station was available for emergency or rescue work anywhere in the county. The squad members were to be trained in classes starting Monday night.

Looking at other articles from the period, the idea of a local rescue squad was reported in September 1950, as local civilian defense initiatives were outlined after the county established several CD committees. Albemarle Fire Chief C. E. Morris had the responsibility of organizing and training a rescue squad. [SNP, 9/29/50]

The following month, news reported that a movement had started among the Albemarle Lions Club to establish a “fully-equipped rescue squad” for the city and county. They would start raising money. [SNP, 10/20/50] By the next month, numerous donated supplies had been procured, from first aid equipment to a resuscitator to a cutting torch to a Scott Air-Pak. [SNP, 11/28/50]

By November of the following year, they were raising money to buy a truck, for the planned rescue squad. And they already had a large amount of donated equipment. [SNP, 11/23/51]

By February 1, 1952, a Ford panel truck had been ordered from the Auten-Wolfe Motor Company, for their bid price of $2,44.31. The truck was purchased with money raised by the Lions Club. The city fire chief was still leading the effort to organize the squad. The truck was expected to be delivered in about 60 days. [SNP, 2/1/52]

By June 20, 1952, the rescue truck was reported as “almost completely equipped” and “would answer an emergency call if one arose.” However, a few items were still needed, including a generator and a siren. A boat had been ordered and a trailer would be built for transporting same. Cabinets had been constructed inside the van and most of the equipment was already in place. [SNP, 6/20/52]

Also called a “Ford Vanette,” the unit was housed at the fire department and AFD’s only rescue truck until late 1957 or early 1958. At that time, the Albemarle Rescue Squad was re-organized as Stanly County Rescue Squad. The truck was disposed to the new organization and painted white.

In 1973, a new rescue truck was purchased and the 1952 van became the squad’s second unit. After newer rescue truck was purchased in 1981, the squad moved to donate the vehicle to serve local residents. In 1982, it was donated to the city parks and recreation department and was used as a maintenance van. In 1989, the van was traded to Confederate Chevrolet and later sold to a pair of private owners.

In 1990, the van was purchased from Ron Childers’ Crown Automobile, by Joyce Hill, owner and operator of the mobile mechanic service Travelube. The van was brought back to Albemarle, painted yellow, re-lettered, and returned to “tip-top shape.”

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