Raleigh’s New Pierce Fire Apparatus

Posted by Mike Legeros on 16 September 2018, 12:37 pm

Four new pieces of Pierce fire apparatus have arrived or are arriving in Raleigh.

2018 Pierce Arrow XT aerial ladder, 107-foot. First pump-less ladder since 1986.
Production complete, delivery soon.
2018 Pierce Arrow XT heavy rescue, walk-in body, two-person cab. First walk-in heavy rescue since 1953.
Delivered August 24. Still getting tags, and equipment mounted.
2018 Pierce Enforcer pumper #1 of 2, 1500/500/20.
Delivered July 12. Placed in service August 2.
2018 Pierce Enforce pumper #2 of 2, 1500/500/20.
Delivered July 12. Placed in service August 2.

Factory photos are below, from the Pierce Flickr page. See that site for larger versions. Click to enlarge:

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Hurricane Florence Coverage

Posted by Mike Legeros on 14 September 2018, 3:53 pm

Our coverage of Hurricane Florence and local preparations (and later impacts) are being posted on:

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Responding to Fran – September 1996

Posted by Mike Legeros on 10 September 2018, 8:10 am

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

Posted by Mike Legeros on 9 September 2018, 11:33 am

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

Posted by Mike Legeros on 8 September 2018, 8:15 am

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

Posted by Mike Legeros on 7 September 2018, 5:53 pm

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

Posted by Mike Legeros on 30 August 2018, 10:31 pm

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.

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

Posted by Mike Legeros on 29 August 2018, 7:42 pm

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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