Locating a Line of Duty Death – Cary, 1960

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November 19
Looking More Closely…
Let’s revisit our recent postings about the June 16, 1960, apparatus accident that killed Cary firefighter Vernon Thompson. Super-close cropping of the News & Observer images gives clues on the Raleigh FD response to the incident.

Observe what’s seen here. Top is one of the city’s four 1951/1953 ALF 700 pumpers (based on the top warning light), along with one of the two 1960 GMC/Alexander tankers.

Bottom left is the 1939/1916 ALF ladder, which might’ve been Truck 6 by that time. Bottom right is the Raleigh Emergency Rescue Squad’s 1954 GMC panel van. (They were a two-piece company, also operating a 1954 Reo CD rescue.)

Since it’s June 1960 and a couple months after the city expanded to the west, let’s presume that’s Engine 8 from its temporary quarters on Method Road, and Tanker 1, also at Station 8.

At midnight on April 1, 1960, the second engine at Station 1 was moved to the rented house just north of Western Boulevard on then-named Kent Road. Engine 9 (as it was called) was renamed Engine 8.

But wait, Batman, my records say Engine 9 at Station 1 operated a 1958 ALF, with a different style warning light. The mystery deepens. See Mike’s apparatus register for more.

The two tankers, meanwhile, were placed in service at Station 2 on April 1, and at Station 8 by May 19. The city operated the tankers until 1986. As the story goes, one of Chief Pickard’s early actions was retiring the tankers.

As for the ladder truck, that’s another mystery. It was moved to reserve status in 1953. And old-timers remember the thing at Station 6, because a back window had to be removed, ’cause the thing was so long. Was it Truck 6 for a stretch? Or maybe their regular apparatus, the 1922 ALF service truck, was in the shop.

Mysteries, mysteries.

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November 17
Locating a Line of Duty Death – Cary, 1960
On June 16, 1960, Cary firefighter Vernon Lee Thompson, 28, was killed, and firefighter Willis Edward (Billy) Henderson, 32, was injured, when their tractor-drawn tanker overturned outside Raleigh. Or, perhaps, inside the Raleigh, as the city limits had been extended effective April 1 of that year. 

They were responding to a trash fire, near the Camp Polk prison farm on the later-named (and likely only later-paved) Blue Ridge Road. The apparatus overturned while “they were turning from Highway 1 onto a service road that runs between the [Meredith] college property and the State College animal husbandry frame,” as news accounts reported. 

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Courtesy Raleigh News & Observer, via North Carolina State Archives

Locating the Accident Site Continue reading ‘Locating a Line of Duty Death – Cary, 1960’ »

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Fairview Station Closure – Update, November 30

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Note: This page is a placeholder for current and future updates about the proposed concept of closing Fairview Fire Station 2.

November 30, 2018

Legislation Proposed for Fire District

Local legislation has been introduced to the North Carolina General Assembly, to remove the Fairview (Ten Ten) Fire District from the governance and jurisdiction of Wake County. It was introduced on November 28 by Representative Nelson Dollar. Read blog post.

November 15, 2018

Minutes from Fire Commission Meetings

See this document for minutes from the Wake County Fire Commission meetings on July 19 and August 16, which included presentations and discussions about the proposal. 

August 21,  2018

Rebuttal to Allegations of Propaganda

From this Facebook post: 

Fairview Fire Department Rebuttal To The Allegations of Spreading Propaganda During the Fire Commission Meeting on August 16, 2018

It is very important to us that our citizens, the Fire Commission and others involved in the discussions about the proposal to close Fairview Sta. 2 know we have been truthful. Please see the links below to Fairview’s rebuttal to allegations of spreading propaganda. The first link is to the letter sent out to the Fire Commission, Wake County Commissioners and Wake County Fire Chiefs. The links following that are for documents referenced in the letter.

Document 1
 Document 2
 Document 3

 

Documents also copied to this blog repository.

August 17, 2018

Work Session Update

The Wake County Fire Commission held a work session last night. Though no voting was done, members reached a consensus decision to take the station closure proposal “off of the table.”

Also, Fairview FD made this annotated version of the Q&A document, originally included in the work session agenda pack.

August 12, 2018

Fire Commission Work Session on August 16

The Wake County Fire Commission will continue their discussion, and continue receiving information, about the proposed closure concept.

The work session meeting starts at 7:00 p.m. at the Wake County Emergency Services Education Center, 221 South Rogers Lane, Suit 160, Raleigh.

See meeting documents (PDF), from this blog post about the meeting.

Community Meeting on August 9

On Thursday, August 9, the Fairview Fire Department held a community meeting, to present information and answer questions about the proposed future closure of Fairview Station 2. 

The web site citizensforfairviewfd.org has posted both slides and audio from the meeting. They’ve been downloaded and copied here:

Note: Recommend paging through the slides, as Former Fairview Fire Chief Donald Pierce speaks. 

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Proposed Concept 

The proposed concept of closing Fairview Station 2 in a future year, after opening a new Garner fire station, was publicly presented at the July 19, 2018, meeting of the Wake County Fire Commission.

Read a summary in this earlier blog post about that meeting, which includes copies of slides that were presented, a handout provided by a concerned citizen, and an audio recording of the meeting.

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Wake County Fire Commission Meeting – November 15, 2018

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Here’s the agenda for tomorrow night’s meeting of the Wake County Fire Commission, for Thursday, November 15, 2018. Starts at 7:00 p.m. at the Wake County Emergency Services Education Center, 221 S. Rogers Lane, Raleigh. 

Agenda

Meeting Called to Order: Chairman Chief McGee

  • Invocation
  • Pledge of allegiance
  • Roll of Members Present

Items of Business

  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Minutes July 19, 2018
  • Approval of Minutes Special Called Meeting August 16, 2018

Public Comments

  • Comments from the public will be taken at this time. Members of the public are invited to make comment to the Commission, with a maximum of 3 minutes per person. A signup sheet for those who wish to speak during the public comments section of the meeting is located at the entrance of the meeting room.

Regular Agenda

  • Wake County Human Resources Compensation Presentation ( if available )
  • Apex Fire Department Re-Direction of Funding Request
  • Fuquay Varina Fire Department Emergency Funding Request
  • North Region Committee Appointments
  • West Region Committee Appointments
  • Fire Commission Administrative Committee Chair Appointment

Information Agenda

  • Fire Tax Financial Report
  • Sub Committee Reports
  • Fire Services Report

Other Business

  • Adjournment
  • Next meeting, January 17, 2019 at 7:00 PM

Agenda Packet

View agenda packet.

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Looking Closely at the Capital Hose Company, Circa 1902

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Alert! Alert! 

New old photo found!

The North Carolina State Archives recently added this image to their collection. It was cataloged in 2014 and one of a handful of surviving turn-of-the-century images of the Raleigh Fire Department. Call number N. 2014.9.1.

It shows the Capital Hose Company competition reel team, circa 1902. They won the “world’s championship” reel contest that year, at the state firemen’s tournament, which was held along with the state convention in Durham on July 23-25, 1902. (Read newspaper articles about the tournament.)

They’re pictured in front of fire department headquarters at 112 W. Morgan Street. The 1896 engine house housed two volunteer fire companies, the Capital Hose Company and the Hook and Ladder Company. Both operated horse-drawn apparatus, the former with a hose wagon, and the latter with a ladder wagon. 

In 1902, the volunteer Raleigh Fire Department had around 100 men, along with paid drivers on “constant duty” at each of the three fire houses. Three two-horse hose wagons were stationed on W. Morgan Street (above), Fayetteville Street, and E. Hargett Street. They carried 2 1/2-inch hose, which was connected directly to the hydrant system, for pumping pressure. (In 1902, the city had 129 public hydrants, 15 private ones, and 33 fire alarm boxes.)

The volunteer companies served until December 1912, when they were replaced by a career Raleigh Fire Department. The volunteer’s equipment and facilities, and even a few members, were transferred to the new department. (Read about that time period, in this 1900-1909 timeline.)

Click to enlarge these views:

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Two Alarms on Wallingford Drive

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Two alarms were struck this morning at 5051 Wallingford Drive. Dispatched 5:07 a.m. Engine 19 arriving at a two-story, garden-style apartment building with 10,356 square feet and eight units. Built 1985. Heavy smoke showing from the front of the structure.

Transitional attack to start, then interior operations plus exterior blitz monitors for exposures. Second alarm requested after fire started involving the attic and roof. Crews were withdrawn, and aerial operations started with Ladder 2. Fire was knocked down, and crews reentered building to extinguish.

Controlled 5:58 a.m. Sixteen people were displaced. No injuries. Three pets rescued, with one dog found later found deceased. Cause determined as accidental. Firefighters remained on the scene into the morning. 

First alarm: E19, E15, E27, E11, L2, L5, R1, B1, B2; Working Fire: A2, C20, C402; Second alarm: E22, E28, E9, L1, L9, B2; Plus C3. Medical: EMS 7, 64, 1, 15, 5, 64, D1, T1. “B” platoon. 

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Every Last Ladder Truck… Again

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Let’s update that posting and montage from February 2014, showing every last ladder truck operated by the Raleigh Fire Department. 

How many do you recognize? Here’s your cheat sheet. As for the montage, it’s a low-res quickie. With a pair of catalog images included, as a change. Don’t believe either is Raleigh’s.

And one truck is out of chronological sequence. See if you can spot it. 

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Vintage Photo of Raleigh’s Old Tiller

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Here’s a vintage picture that I don’t believe we’ve shared before. Truck 1 at Station 2 at Memorial Auditorium. That’s the original tiller with its new cab, a 1939 ALF cab towing a 1916 ALF trailer. Two-section, crank-operated, wooden aerial ladder.

Aerial Ladder Truck 1 was originally cross-staffed with the service ladder truck, a 1922 ALF. Both were housed at the original Station 1 on West Morgan Street.

When that station closed in 1941, the ladder trucks were moved to Station 2 at Memorial Auditorium, because they couldn’t fit into the new temporary Station 1, at old Station 2 on South Salisbury Street. Follow?

Engine 2 was then displaced to the new temporary Station 1 and, in fact, Mr. Blogger theorizes, thus began the tradition of having two engines at Station 1. Thinking that the double engines “got good” to the chiefs, and they continued the concept.

When Station 6 opened on Fairview Road in 1949–the permanent one, not the original rented building opened in 1943 and closed in 1948–the service ladder truck was moved there. Engine 2 was moved back to Memorial. And the ladder stayed there until the current Station 1 opened on South Dawson Street in 1953. Got it? Good, there will be a quiz.

Side note, the Engine 2 movement is still partially speculated. Haven’t found supporting docs, like original log books. Just based on photos and inferences.

As for the photo, it’s courtesy Charles Watson. His father is one of the Masons in the picture, Elwin Watson from Kenly, NC.

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Raleigh Fire Department Newsletter – Fall 2018

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What’s been happening lately with your fire department? See the latest issue of the Raleigh Fire Department newsletter.

Old-school, old-style reporting. Eight pages about facilities, incidents, apparatus, personnel, et al.

Contents of this issue includes new Rescue 1, three alarms at Glenwood Towers, new Station 12 opening, Recruiting for 2019 and Beyond, and more. 

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Glenwood Towers – Major Fires and Fatal Fires

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While we’re still reflecting on the Glenwood Towers high-rise fire from last week, let’s look at the historical perspective. What other major fires–and fatal fires–have happened since it opened in 1971?

Fatal Fires

Feb. 2, 2003
Philip George Moultrie, 55
Fifth-floor apartment. Victim found on living room floor. Pronounced dead on the scene. Apparently started by smoking. Dispatched 2:28 p.m. Fire confined to victim’s apartment.

Jan 4, 1975
William Henry Dunn, 76
Found in his sixth floor apartment. Victim awoke during the blaze and notified a neighbor, who called the fire department. Victim was transported to Wake Memorial Hospital with first- and second-degree burns on both legs, and was listed in fair condition the following day. Two others were transported, one suffering from pneumonia as a precaution, and one for a prearranged trip. Dunn died April 14. Coroner cited arteriosclerosis as cause, with lower leg amputation as other significant condition, from third-degree burns. Nearly all of the 350 residents had evacuated when firefighters arrived. Fire heavily damaged victim’s room but did not spread. Minor smoke damage to sixth floor hallway.

June 6, 1974
Nellie Gray Chappell, 63
Ninth-floor apartment. Victim found in bathroom, deceased on arrival, while small fire burned in nearby clothes hamper. Corner determined cause as “possible malnutrition” and “apparently natural.” Started by light bulb resting against clothing. Fire reported at 12:44 a.m. by two neighbors who noticed smoke in the hall. They called both the fire department and the maintenance foreman. Two policemen arrived, forced the door open, and extinguished the small fire with an extinguisher. Damage $500. Glenwood Towers was built in 1970, and notable for its use of fireproof materials. Neither smoke nor heat detectors were required at the time of construction. Only last week, the Raleigh House Authority had met with salesmen to discuss installing smoke-sensing devices.

Source: Legeros research on fatal fires.

Major Fires

Defined as two or more alarms.

October 26, 2018

Three alarms. Dispatched 12:55 p.m. as fire alarm. Heavy smoke on ninth floor, heavy fire found in single apartment. Working fire at 1:02 p.m. Second alarm at 1:03 p.m. Third alarm at 1:12 p.m. Two additional engines at 1:20 p.m. Additional alarms and personnel for manpower needs, for evacuation and rescue of some 10 to 12 occupants, some that called 911 to report their locations. Water on fire at 1:38 p.m. Extended operations for overhaul, air monitoring, and assisting residents with returning. Six residents transported, one treated and not transported. Over 100 evacuated. Total 28 units damaged, 26 [?] residents displaced.

Fire response: E1, E2, E3, E5, E6, E8, E10 (relief), E11, E13, E17, E20, Sq 7, Sq 14, L1 (relief), L3, L4, L7, L8, R1, C20, C401, C402, C1, C2, C3, C4, C14, B2, B3, B5 A1, A2 (relief), Training Division Chief, Training Captains, recruit academy members.

EMS response: EMS15, 16, 22, 3, 33, 4, 52, 54, 6, 62, 63, 68, 7, 8, plus [single?] units from Franklin, Johnson, Harnett, Granville counties; District 1, 3, 4, 5, Medic 91, 92, 93, 95, CH 101, 102, 200, Evac 1, EMS PIO.

See earlier blog post for more information.

May 18, 1992

Two alarms. Dispatched about 4:45 p.m. Heavy smoke and minor fire in apartment on second-floor. Code 2 on arrival by E5, upgraded to Code 3 by Car 52. Fire in a/c unit, damage only to a/c unit and carpet. E5, E3, T1, R7, C52; E1, E3, T8, R6, C1, C2, C4, C5, C12, SR 5.

Source: Legeros timeline, 1990s.

December 27, 1990

Two alarms. Code 3 on arrival. Heating/air-condition unit on fire in one apartment. Evacuated seventh floor. One resident transported. Second alarm not utilized. E5, E13, T1, C52, R7; E1, E3, T8, C51; C3, C4, C10, C1, C70, SR1.

Source: Legeros timeline, 1990s.

Others?

Are there more two-alarm fires, than recorded here? That’s quite possible. And are there single-alarm responses that should be categorized as “major fire”? That involved heavy fire in a single unit, or heavy smoke and significant evacuation? Good question. Will ponder. 

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Two Alarms on Brook Knoll Place

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On Sunday, October 28, two alarms were struck on Brook Knoll Place, in a townhouse complex around the corner from Falls of Neuse and Wake Forest Roads. Dispatched 6:43 a.m. Upgraded to working fire and second alarm, while units were en route, based on number of callers.

Engine 15 arrived at a three-story townhouse with 1,780 square-feet. One of eight units, built 2004. Heavy fire showing in front and rear of structure, on two of the three floors.

Crews initially performed an interior attack, including a courtyard lay in the rear of the structure, with a two-inch line from Engine 9. The fire building was soon evacuated, and exterior operations were started, using Engine 15 deluge gun, Ladder 1 from northwest corner of complex, and Ladder 2 in front of the fire building.

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Exterior hand line was also deployed from behind the fire building, from a second-story balcony opposite the fire building. Crews climbed onto the balcony using a roof ladder. The main body of the fire was knocked down in about ten minutes. The fire was controlled at 7:30 a.m.

Ladder 2 continued to flow into the building, while Ladder 1 was demobilized, along with the second-alarm companies. Engine 15, 19, 9, Ladder 2, and Battalion 5 remained on scene, and “C” platoon personnel were relieved by “A” platoon members. They remained on scene into the morning.

First alarm: E15, E19, E11, E9, L2, L1, R1, B1, B5; Working fire: A2, C20, C402, B2; Second alarm: E16, E4, E22, L5, L3; Plus C2, C3, C4.

Two residents were injured, and transported to the hospital. One later died, a 71 year-old woman. Six people were displaced. 

See more photos by Mike Legeros.

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