Responding to Fran – September 1996

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As Hurricane Florence approaches, many in Raleigh are remembering Fran from 22 years ago. The storm struck the city with hurricane-force winds on Thursday night, September 5, 1996. 

During a three-day period, the Raleigh Fire Department answered nearly 700 calls, with call types ranging from fires (46) and medical emergencies (142), to flooding (33) and trees on buildings or people (33), to electrical (163) and fuel hazard (97), to false alarms and false calls (121).

Effects of the storm were felt in Raleigh starting around 11:00 p.m., with a tornado watch for the entire state issued after 1:00 p.m. The airport recorded 8.8 inches of rain over 24 hours, which broke the 1929 record of 6.66 inches. It measured wind gusts as high as 79 mph.

By daybreak, the storm had passed over the city. Almost all of Wake County was without power, and none of the city’s 420 traffic lights was working. Damage was reported across all of the county’s 891 square miles. It produced 3.5 million cubic yards of debris. Four people were killed in Wake County, among the 24 killed in North Carolina. The storm did $2.3 billion damage in the state

Here’s a retrospective that’s been on the back burner for a while, with a list of calls and log book entries. Plus related links. It’s a firm reminder to be prepared.

Read the retrospective.

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New Hanover County Fire History – Research Notes

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Wrapped another squirrel chase! This one started as a question: what’s the origin story of New Hanover’s county fire department? How did a system of community (or “rural”) volunteer fire departments (Castle Hayne, Myrtle Grove, North Wilmington, etc.) evolve into a career, county-run department?

It’s story told in two parts. First, in 1950, with the creation of a one-man county fire department, that operated for two years, first from the airport, and then in a garage used by the Maffitt Village VFD, south of the city.

Fast-forward to 1993 and the closure of the North Wilmington VFD. That left a district along Highway 421, north of Wilmington, without a nearby fire station. The long response times compelled the county fire commission to recommend to county commissioners that a new department be organized. Thus begat the first county-operated fire station. And the beginnings of the current New Hanover County FD. 

Those stories and many others are told in Mike’s newest collection of research notes. They also include explorations of South/North Wilmington VFD, and Winter Park VFD. Plus a ton of other notes, maps, graphics, and more. Visit the site at https://legeros.com/history/new-hanover. 

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Vintage Rigs – Garner, Pink Hill, West of New Bern

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Found for sale on eBay. Readers can add makes/models/years. Look like (bad) scans of physical prints. Maybe some of Tony Kelly’s postcard pics, from back in the day? Click to (slightly) enlarge:

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Wilmington-New Hanover County Fire Protection Report – 1971

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Random historical artifact, by way of the New Hanover County Library’s North Carolina Room. 

Technical report on the county (and city) fire protection. Includes a four-page response from the volunteer fire departments, clarifying and refuting some points.

Includes some nifty details of the time, including a Wilmington FD org chart, and a list of all volunter FD apparatus and specs. (Though from a 1969 report, a footnote notes. Thus some equipment may have been upgraded by the time of this report.)

There were 36 of these reports that were created by the Wilmington-New Hanover Charter Commission. Search the library catalog for the full listing of reports.

View the document (PDF).

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Before and After Floor Plans – Winston-Salem Station 7

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The Winston-Salem Fire Department recently re-dedicated their Fire Station 7, after completing a two-year renovation project. Below are some details of the project as well as before and after floor plans. Thanks to the Fire Chief’s office, for sharing. 

Located at 100 Arbor Road, the “Buena Vista Fire Station” was opened in 1951. It houses the department’s rescue company, and also serves as an educational center for inter- and extra-departmental training. And it’s the city’s oldest active fire station.

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David Rolfe/Winston-Salem Journal photos

The $2M project extensively renovated the engine house, adding 4,200 of additional feature and new features including a laundry area, separate bathrooms to accommodate female firefighters, and a larger apparatus bay that can house bigger and wider equipment.

It’s the third of three station renovation projects, part of a 2014 bond package. Station 8 and Station 9 also underwent renovations. Read more in this Winston-Salem Journal story.

Floor Plans

Left is before, right is after. Top is first floor, bottom is second floor. Got it?

Click to enlarge as JPG images or view as PDF.

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Vintage Commentary: Who’s Protecting Whom – Volunteer Fire Departments Talk Back

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The following full-page commentary, bought as an advertisement, appeared in the Wilmington Star-News in late 1993 or early 1994. 

It presents opinions of the county’s volunteer fire departments, and their reactions to recent events of the time, including the closure of North Wilmington VFD that year, new county requirements for VFDs for financial accounting, and county plans for surplus fire tax funds.

Transcription is included below. Or read this scanned photocopy of the original (PDF, 2.5M).

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WHO’S PROTECTING WHO – VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS TALK BACK

The controversy between the Volunteer Fire Departments (VFD’s) and the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners (Board) has made headlines the past few months. The VFD’s are taking this opportunity to tell our story to the tax paying residents of the unincorporated portions of New Hanover County.  

Continue reading ‘Vintage Commentary: Who’s Protecting Whom – Volunteer Fire Departments Talk Back’ »

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Conference Slides… Posted, Annotated

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Earlier this month, Mr. Blogger gave a presentation at the South Atlantic Fire Rescue Expo. The topic was Preserving Your Fire Department’s Heritage.

He’s posted a copy of his presentation slides (PDF, 22M). They’re heavily annotated, with versions of his spoken remarks and other errata. 

The outline:

  • Introduction
  • What is history?
  • Learning your history
  • Preserving your history
  • Presenting your history
  • Questions
  • Filler

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Drone View of New Station 12

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Been open a week. Left to right are exits for Ladder 8, Battalion 2, and Engine 12.

Car 20, the shift commander (Division Chief), exits through rear middle. 

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Here’s a clip of the doors opening as the drone pulls away. Needs trucks rolling. Next time.

Plus, as posted earlier on Twitter and Facebook, here are those amazing doors in action:

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Audio + Recap – Wake County Fire Commission Work Session – August 16

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August 16, 2018

Here’s an audio recording of the work session, by Legeros. Using phone, in pocket. Apologies for quality.

Download audio. (MP3, 84 M)

Summary:

  • Fire Services Director gave a presentation, with brief recap of background and extended, expanded information on several points.
  • Commission members conducted discussion.
  • Fairview Fire Department gave a ten-minute statement.
  • Garner Fire Department gave a ten-minute presentation.
  • Commission members conducted further discussion.
  • Though no voting was made, commission members expressed the consensus of opinion to take the proposed concept off the table.
  • Commission members expressed that the entire fire system instead be examined, to address service needs, areas of duplication, cost-savings opportunities, etc. 
  • Meeting adjourned.

August 12, 2018

The Wake County Fire Commission meets for a work session on Thursday, August 19, 2018, at the Wake County Emergency Services Training Center,  220 S. Rogers Lane, Suite 160. Meeting starts at 7:00 p.m.

There’s one topic on the agenda, continued from the July 19 meeting: the proposed closure and district realignment of Fairview Station 2.

No vote is planned. Nor will public comments be received.

View Agenda Packet

Agenda

  • Meeting Called to Order: Chair Chief McGee
    • Invocation
    • Pledge of allegiance
  • Insurance District Realignment and Station Closure Discussions
    • At the July 19, 2018 Fire commission meeting, the Director of Fire Services presented staff recommendations on the Ten-Ten Fire Insurance district realignment and closure of Fairview Rural Fire Department’s Station 2, at the completion of construction and opening of a new fire station located on Caddy Road. Public comment was presented and received by the Commission. Questions were generated for staff by Commission members and members were asked to provided Fire Services with additional questions, prior to continuation of discussions.
    • Action Requested: That the Commission receive information pertaining to the questions generated for staff
  • Meeting Adjournment
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Vintage Photos of Frisco, Triangle Fire Departments

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Found for sale on eBay, scans of photographs of the Frisco (Dare) and Triangle (Davidson) fire departments. Both from the 1970s, say seller notes. The Frisco picture is a grayscale scan from the seller.

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