Two Alarms on Dansey Drive This Morning

Posted by Mike Legeros on 8 March 2018, 10:13 pm

Note: This posting incorporates information from this narrative posted by Wake New Hope Fire Department.

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Two alarms were struck this morning at 4713 Dansey Drive. The reported structure fire was dispatched at 7:55 a.m. for Engines 19, 15, 27, 11, Ladders 2, 5, Rescue 1, Battalions 1 and 5, and New Hope Engine 1, as automatic aid for closest engine. Headquarters advised that callers reported a fire on a back deck.

While en route, New Hope Engine 1 upgraded to a working fire. They arrived at 7:59 a.m. and reported heavy fire and smoke from the rear of a two-story, garden-style apartment building with 6,514 square-feet. Built 1983, say tax records.

Engine 1 crew stretched a 1.75-inch hand line into the structure, and started an interior attack. Engine 19 then arrived, secured a water supply, and began assisting the interior crews with fire attack. Battalion 1 arrived, assumed command, and requested a second alarm. Dansey Drive and New Hope Road were designated at staging area.

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With multiple reports of people still inside the building, Rescue 1 was assigned search and rescue, and to assist with evacuating any residents. Also by this time, Wake County EMS requested a second alarm, to bring additional EMS resources to the scene.

At 8:10 a.m., all firefighters were ordered out of the second story, and soon out of the entire structure. Evacuation tones were sounded and a Personal Accountability Report (PAR) was conducted.

By this time, Ladder 5 was ready for aerial operations, positioned in front of the structure and with a supply line from Engine 27. The aerial stream was used for several minutes, to knock down heavy fire in the attic. A ground monitor, also supplied by Engine 27, was also used for exterior fire attack.

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After the bulk of the fire had been extinguished, crews went back inside the structure to extinguish hot spots. The fire was placed under control at 8:42 a.m.

No injuries were reported. Four of the eight apartment units were damaged. Five people were displaced. The cause was determined as accidental.

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Run card:

First alarm: NHFD E1, RFD E19, E15, E27, E11, L2, L5, R1, B1, B5.
Working fire: C20, A2, C402
Second alarm: E21, E22, E28, L1, L4, A1.
EMS first alarm: EMS 3.
EMS working fire: EMS 15, D3.
EMS second alarm: EMS 19, EMS 6, EMS 4, EMS 63, D1, D9, M95, M96, T1.

News coverage:

News & Observer
WNCN
WRAL
WTVD

Incident report with pictures:

New Hope Fire Department

Photos:

Mike Legeros (full series)
Mike Legeros (partial on Facebook)

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African American Heritage in the Raleigh Fire Department

Posted by Mike Legeros on 1 March 2018, 7:25 am

The Raleigh Fire Department has a rich heritage of African Americans, both during the volunteer era of the 19th and early 20th century, and as members of the career department beginning in 1963. We’re reminded of this legacy with the recent passing of two retirees: retired Division Chief Richmond Davis, and retired Senior Firefighter Shirley Boone.

Chief Davis was one of seven of the city’s first career black firefighters, hired 1963-64. He climbed the ranks over his 30.2 years, as the city’s first black fire captain (1974), first black Battalion Chief (1980), and first black Division Chief (1991). He also served as Chief of Training.

Firefighter Boone served the city for 20.8 years as a full-time firefighter, and for many subsequent years in a part-time capacity in Administration. She was one of the first black women hired by the fire department, between 1978 and 1982.

Their stories and others have been compiled by Historian Mike Legeros (that’s me!), in a newly expanded history document.

The 50-page document includes stories and information and data about the city’s black firefighters, their volunteer-era predecessors, early station assignments and working conditions, a class-action lawsuit, the hiring of the first females, and new and renewed efforts at recruiting for diversity in recent years.

Read the history at www.legeros.com/ralwake/raleigh/history/black-history

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Vintage Photo of Guilford County Airport Fire Spill Support Unit

Posted by Mike Legeros on 27 February 2018, 7:22 am

Thanks to a reader, who came upon this vintage picture the other week, from the collection of Scott Mattson. Thanks for sharing, Micah!

Vintage Guilford County Fire Services support unit. Looks like a 1960s Dodge truck, which had been converted into a lighting and generator unit. It’s pulling a two-axle cargo trailer lettered as “oil spill control unit.”

Scott Mattson Collection

Both were housed at the airport fire station, which was also headquarters for county fire services. The county’s oil spill response team was created around 1977 or 78, and included this 1958 Chevy tanker. Click to enlarge:

Scott Mattson Collection

In a Greensboro Daily News article on February 13, 1978, the “special county oil spill team” was described as being created sixteen months prior.

Technical expertise was provided by the Division of Environmental Health, while the “sweat and backbreaking labor of containing an oil spill” is provided by the County Fire Marshal’s office.

The fire marshal’s office had created a fleet of emergency vehicles for oil spill response, including a lighting truck with a gas-powered generator, a trailer with absorbing materials and tools for spill containment, a pumper truck that can “suck up offending oil or contaminated water”, a general maintenance truck that pulls the trailer, and a jeep.

Read more in Mr. Blogger’s recent history of Guilford County Fire Services and history of the PTI airport fire department: www.legeros.com/history/stories/pti-airport.

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Close Views of Early Raleigh Fire Engines

Posted by Mike Legeros on 24 February 2018, 8:53 am

Random historical photo(s) from the Raleigh Fire Museum. Visit this photo album to see others. Visit this apparatus register to learn more about these rigs.

Fire apparatus at the North Carolina State Capitol, circa early 1920s. Courtesy Raleigh Fire Department.

Pictured left to right are:

1912 American LaFrance Type 5 combination chemical and hose truck
1918 American LaFrance Type 45 triple combination pumper
1916 American LaFrance Type 17 aerial ladder
1922 American LaFrance Type 14 combination service truck
1914 American LaFrance Type 12 triple combination pumper.

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Mayview, Belgrade, Loco Fire Departments Plan Merger

Posted by Mike Legeros on 22 February 2018, 9:13 pm

From the Jacksonville Daily News on February 21, three fire departments in Jones and Onslow County are planning a merger.

They began discussions in December, with a merger plan presented at a February 20 meeting. The merger is expected to take effect on July 1.

Details on each department:

Maysville Fire & EMS, Inc.
Jones County
404 Main Street
Chartered 2/5/82
32 members

Belgrade Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.
Onslow County
7561 New Bern Highway
Chartered 10/20/59
15 members

Loco Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.
Onslow County
2731 White Oak River Road
Chartered 2/22/85
20 members

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Tales of the Union – 1942 to 1951

Posted by Mike Legeros on 22 February 2018, 7:46 am

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How about some vintage meeting minute excerpts for your hysterical historical enjoyment? These are from the Raleigh Fire Fighters Association, Local No. 548, as transcribed by Yours Truly. Read many more at http://legeros.com/ralwake/raleigh/history/union/

1942 – Meeting came to order at 10:30 a.m. followed by prayer by all members. Motion made and carried that men at work on duty at No. 4 and 5 be marked as present.”

1942 – Brothers, O. L. Wilkerson and L. Q. Godwin, sworn in as members of Local 548.

1942 – Motion made by Bro. J. S. Honeycutt that a man be in the department for 60 days before accepting him in union. Passed unanimously.”

1942 – Discussion concerning the purchase of pajamas [as a Christmas present] for Chief Butts. Bro. Ellen stated that #5 refuses to pay any part on same. Bro. Averett stated #4 would pay their part, but later disagreed to pay. Bro. Pearce stated that his wife did not wear silk pajamas and he would not buy any man some. Motion made by Bro. Mills that the other stations play for the entire sum. Passed.

1943 – Motion made by Bro. Sadler that the minutes of each meeting be copied and sent to each station to be placed on the bulletin board, in order that Stations 4 & 5 will know what is going on when they can’t attend the meetings. This motion passed.

1943 – There was considerable discussion concerning writing the men in the service. Capt. Burnette suggested that we send the boys the News & Observer. This was adopted, the money to come from the treasury. The following were appointed to write each man: J. D. Grimes to Puryear; Wilkerson to Holmes; Randolph to Alexander; Strayhorn to Gregory.

1943 – Pres. Keeter asked for 2 volunteers to visit H. V. Lloyd [who had had a stroke] at intervals. Bro Lassiter & Watkins volunteered.

1944 – Pres. Keeter discussed State Fire Fighters Convention to be held here July 27th & 28th. Bro. Burnette suggested that we give a supper and a dinner for delegates. Br. Burnette, Smith, Lassiter, High, & Godwin to help Pres. Keeter toward preparations for convention.

1945 – Bro. King mentioned that there [was] too much profane language used by members during Local meeting.

1945 – After some discussion by various members on 24 on 24 off, motion was made by Bro. Smith that Pres. Keeter go to Chief Butts & discuss the matter with him. Bro. Sadler asked for an amendment that 90 day trail be included. Motion carried 100%.

1946 – Pres. Keeter gave his findings on the meat situation in regards to the proposed barbecue. Bro. Burnette spoke on the great cost of a barbecue, and suggested that it be postponed.

1946 – Pres. Keeter gave a talk on meeting & various bills taken up by IAFF at Toledo. Bro. Hayes gave talks on the opinions of other city firemen in regards to pensions & the IAFF.

1947 – The initiating committee prepared our shivering & shaking candidates for their coming ordeal. This program was carried out with hilarious gusto.

1947 – Bro. Hayes explained why some of the men were not able to get into the ballpark on their passes. He explained (as it was told to him) that some of the firemen had been loaning their passes to non-members and that they were trying to get others in on their passes. Bro. Blake said that he had talked to Grimes. Stephenson and Grimes told him that no pass cards had been wrongly used at his gate.

1947 – Bro. Keeter gave his view on the condition of the Fire Dept., and also working dances at auditorium.

1948 – The union voted to accept the state [fire fighter’s association] meeting if High Point turned it down.

1948 – A discussion followed on extended sick leave by several members. Bro. Keeter explained about sick leave.

1948 – A very lengthy discussion on the political mechanics of the Charlotte Fire Dept. was held.

1948 – Hobby made a motion that we vote on 24 on, 24 off. Seconded by Bro. Brannan. Motion carried unanimously that we adopted permanently the 24 on, 24 off mode of working with only 4 voting against.

1949 – Discussion was brought up on the seniority and ability method for making promotions in the dept. After a lengthy discussion, Bro. Mims made a motion that the organization go on record as favoring the plan, and that the President appoint a committee to represent the dept. at the Civil Service Commission about this method of promotion.

1949 – J. W. Godwin made motion we repair typewriter. Motion carried.

1950 – The condition of [original Raleigh Fire Chief] Sherwood Brockwell was discussed, and the need for blood donor was brought out by several of the members.

1950 – Brother J. W. Godwin made a motion that an assistant driver be made on each shift for each company. Brother Burnette seconded. Motion carried.

1950 – It was brought up about forming a ladies auxiliary, but it was decided we talk with our wives about it first, and see how they feel about it.

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New EMS Station in Wendell

Posted by Mike Legeros on 19 February 2018, 7:29 am

Update 8:14 a.m. – Corrected to note that Eastern Wake EMS will exclusively occupy the facility.

Wake County is building a new EMS station at 3001 Wendell Boulevard, which is across the street-and-to-the-right from the fire station. It will replace the current Wendell Main EMS Station, located downtown. Construction is nearing completion. Lee Wilson took this photo this weekend:

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Lee Wilson photo

The 4,231 square-foot building will be equipped with three ambulance bays and eleven parking places. The 0.95 acre site is located at 3001 Wendell Boulevard. The $1.7M building was designed by Williard Stewart Caliendo Architects.

It will occupied by Eastern Wake EMS, which currently utilizes the old Wendell Rescue Squad building at 401 E. Third Street. That 4,080 square-foot structure was built in 1974, and will be retained by Eastern Wake EMS as an administration facility.

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See larger version of rendering and floor plan on the county’s project page.

Project Summary

Here’s a project summary, from this county’s project page:

On May 12, 2016, Wake County closed on a 0.95-acre tract of land located at 3001 Wendell Blvd., Wendell, for the purpose of building a new EMS station that would serve the Town of Wendell and provide improved response times to the target coverage area.

On July 18, 2016, the Wake County Board of Commissioners approved the schematic design for the new EMS station, composed of 4,231 SF, including 3 single-length ambulance bays, room to house a peak load unit, a 24-hour response unit, and an Advance Practice Paramedic vehicle. Eastern Wake EMS will also [exclusively] occupy and operate EMS units from this location.

On January 17, 2017, the Wake County Board of Commissioners approved a construction contract with Cadet Construction Company of Raleigh to construct the new facility along with all of the necessary site improvements.

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Fatal Fires in Raleigh – 1948 to 2018

Posted by Mike Legeros on 12 February 2018, 6:32 am

Presenting the results of a recent research project: Fatal Fires in Raleigh, 1948-2018.

Starting in 1948, and the deadliest fire in the city’s history. Five family members died after their apartment burned above the Carolina Country Club clubhouse in February 1948.

Over 150 deaths, from incidents as limited by (a.) inside the city limits, or (b.) outside the city, but with mutual aid response from the Raleigh Fire Department, and (c.) not related to transportation. Primarily structure fires, but not entirely.

Plus an interactive Google map with plotting.

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Background

Longtime readers might remember our original posting on this subject in 2013. That was a data dump that sparked a bit of conversation. Then Legeros returned to his records after last month’s fatal fire on Avent Hill.

This time, he dove deep, started again with fire department historical records, and his own stack of newspaper clippings. Then digging deeper into News & Observer and Raleigh Times back issues, via microfilm and Newsbank. And even consulting the death certificate and death index data from the state, via Ancestry.com via local library access.

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View the Data

The revised results have been vastly expanded. More data and better accuracy. With presentation as a PDF document, based on a Word document.

Heavy on the narrative details, though we attempted to record (if available) each cause of death, location of victim, cause of fire, and such. Better format might be exclusively tabular. Say, a spreadsheet with more columns. Future project!

Take a look and see what you think. Feedback welcome, as well as additional inputs.

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This Morning’s Fire on Sanderford Road / Bit of Black Firefighter History

Posted by Mike Legeros on 28 January 2018, 12:19 pm

City firefighters have been busy of late. Working fires have been happening seemingly daily, over the last couple weeks.

This morning, south-side companies were dispatched to 2126 Sanderford Road. Engine 10 first-due. Dispatched about 7:20 a.m. With the run card E10 E2 E12 SQ7 L2 L8 R1 B2 B3.

Actual fire address was 2120 Sanderford Road. And quickly controlled, within about 20 minutes.

While looking at the property details via Wake County real estate records, the owner’s named jumped out at me: James Leon Giles Sr. Heirs.

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That’s the name of an early black firefighter in Raleigh, correct? One of the original seven, hired in 1963 and 1964?

Mr. Blogger checked the Raleigh Fire Museum’s Centennial Roll Call and the name matched. Then checked Google, which found his obituary from 2015. He passed away on November 18. The obituary lists the same address.

Mystery Solved

Final confirmation came from the museum’s mailing list of retired and former members. The above death notice was distributed at the time of Gile’s passing, along with mention of his time in the fire department.

James Leon Giles (pronounced “Jiles”) was hired on May 1, 1963. He was the fourth of seven black firemen hired between February 1963 and April 1964. He served for 6.3 years and resigned with the rank of Firefighter in August 1969.

Interesting coincidence and notably as we’re nearly starting Black History Month.

Learn More

Want to learn more about African-American heritage in the Raleigh Fire Department? Read this research document (PDF) that tells the story of both the career members beginning in 1963, and the fifty years that companies of volunteer black firemen served the city.

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