Raleigh Company and Unit Moves, Effective October 27

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Be advised. Effective today, October 27, the following city fire companies and units were moved:

  • Ladder 2 from Sta 11 to Sta 15,  riding the city’s fourth tiller, in service today
  • Ladder 9 from Sta 29 to Sta 23 
  • Battalion 4 from Sta 23 to Sta 18
  • Haz-Mat 2 from Sta 27 to Sta 29
  • Haz-Mat 5 from Sta 18 to Sta 27

Personnel were also shifted, for those crews that cross-staff the haz-mat units: Engine 18 personnel to Sta 27, Engine 27 personnel to Sta 29, and Engine 23 personnel to Sta 18.

Additional moves are pending, to accommodate the renovation of Station 11 on Glen Eden Drive and the relocation of Station 22 on Durant Road:

  • Engine 11 to Station 7
  • Engine 22 to temporary station at water plant on Falls of Neuse Road
  • Ladder 5 and Haz-Mat 4 from Sta 22 to Sta 25.

Will update my web pages and map(s) posthaste.

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Cary’s New Fire Chief… And Updated Cary/Raleigh Scorecard

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The Town of Cary yesterday announced a new Fire Chief, with the promotion of Deputy Chief Michael W. Cooper as the new Chief of Department.

Chief Cooper succeeds longtime Fire Chief Allan Cain, who has been promoted to a new position of Public Safety Director. 

This press release notes biographical information on both.

Chief Cooper (left) is a 31-year veteran of the fire service. He was hired in 2005 as an Assistant Chief, and promoted to Deputy Fire Chief last year. He’s also the fourth Fire Chief with a connection to Raleigh. See below. 

Chief Cain (right) was hired in 1994 as Deputy Fire Chief, and promoted to Fire Chief in 2003. He’s also spent nearly 18 months holding the dual role of Fire Chief and Interim Planning Director. 

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The Cary/Raleigh Connection Continues

Chief Cooper is a former Raleigh Fire Captain. He’s now the fourth Cary Fire Chief with a connection to the Raleigh Fire Department.

Here’s the updated scorecard, which we last covered in this 2016 posting:

Chief Michael W. Cooper – 2018 to present
Former Raleigh Fire Captain, served city 1991 to 2005.
Hired as Asst. Chief in 2005.

Chief Ned K. Perry – 1975 to 1993
Former Raleigh Fire Captain, served city 1958 to 1975. 
Also charter member of Raleigh Firemen’s Club, and first President of re-formed IAFF charter in 1969
Hired as Fire Chief in 1975.

Chief Clarence F. Ayscue – 1967 to 1968
Hired as Fire Chief in 1967.
Hired by City of Raleigh as a firefighter in 1968. Retired as Senior Firefighter in 1989.

Chief R. Lee Matthews – 1967
Retired Raleigh Asst. Chief, served city from 1926 to 1963.
Hired as Fire Chief in 1967.
He was also a volunteer member of CFD for years, and, I think, their training officer.

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One Hundred Milestones of the Chapel Hill Fire Department

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Give or take a few, that is.

This list was previously posted to the Chapel Hill Fire Department Retires & History page on Facebook. 

Learn more CHFD history.

1893 to 1924

1893 – First fire hydrants on campus. Twelve are installed.
1896 – Citizens petition town to create fire department. No action taken at time of petition.
1901 – First fire equipment authorized, “hook and ladder outfit.”
1902 – First fire house authorized. For housing hook ‘n’ ladder and two reels to be supplied by UNC.
1902 – First Fire Chief elected, John O’Daniel.
1902 – Fire Commission created. Three members, duties include approving building plans.
1903 – Fire limits created.
1903 – “Hook and ladder outfit” purchased.
1903 – Fire Chief S. W. Andrews elected.
1903 – Fire company organized.
1905 – Fire Chief John M. Markham elected.
1906 – Fire district established.
1908 – Fire Chief Walter W. Pickard appointed. 
1909 – Fire Chief W. A. Lloyd appointed, after Chief Pickard dies off duty.
1910 – New fire station construction approved. Located on Main (Franklin) Street.
1910 – Fire Chief A. A. Pickard appointed. 
1911 – Fire Chief J. L. Foister appointed. 
1916 – First motor fire engine, 1914 Ford hose car. Chassis bought local, body built in Greensboro.
1920 – Fire alarm siren installed, replaces use of church bells.
Continue reading ‘One Hundred Milestones of the Chapel Hill Fire Department’ »

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Remembering the State Fair Fire Brigade

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The Raleigh Fire Museum has added more vintage photos of the State Fair Fire Brigade to their Flickr site. See their photo album of State Fair fire history. 

From the 1960s to 2005, the brigade provided on-site fire protection (and fellowship) during the State Fair. Members were primarily off-duty Raleigh firefighters. They lived on site, and utilized apparatus loaned by vendors.

Thanks to longtime brigade member, retired Captain Paul Averette, for the pictures. Read about their history, in these notes of mine.

2018-10-17-state-fair

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Twin Tillers Coming to Cary

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The Cary Fire Department has placed an order for two, count ’em two, identical Pierce Enforcer Ascendant tractor-drawn aerial ladders, or tillers. 

From this Atlantic Emergency Solutions Facebook post, the spec includes: 

  • 60″ cab 
  • TAK-4 Independent Front Suspension
  • Detroit DD13 525hp engine
  • USSC Valor Seating
  • HiViz LED scene lighting
  • Harrison 6kW generator

And needed the ability to back-fill stations, Cary has added:

  • 1500 GPM Waterous pump
  • 200 gallon tank
  • 40″ pump house, all while maintaining a short, 169″ wheelbase.

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North Carolina Fallen Firefighters to be Honored at National Memorial – October 7, 2018

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This post originated as a Facebook posting on Legeros Fire Line.

The 37th National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, October 7, 2018, at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD.  The ceremony will honor the lives of 80 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2017 and 23 firefighters who died in previous years. They include four firefighters from North Carolina, listed below.

The names of the firefighters will be read, and their loved ones will receive an American flag that had been flown above the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial and the U.S. Capitol Dome. They will also be presented with a red rose and a special personalized badge. During the ceremony, a bronze plaque bearing the names of the fallen will be officially added to the national memorial. 

The service begins at 10:00 a.m. and is open to the public. The fallen firefighters will be remembered at a Candlelight Service at the same location on Saturday, October 6, 6:30 p.m.

Visit https://www.firehero.org/ for more information, including the 2018 Roll of Honor. 

Rufus E. Brinson Jr.
Reelsboro FD
Died 6/6/08
Collapsed during training

Jason Keith Hensley
Triple Community FD
Died 10/9/17
Vehicle collision while responding to call

Donald “Reid” Key II
Whispering Pines FD
Died 12/27/16
Became ill after returning home from fire station

Eric Durean Lacewell
Wilmington FD
Died 11/4/14
Injuries from accident at station on 3/31/11

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Hurricane Florence Photo Galleries

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Here are my galleries on SmugMug, of pictures before, during, and after Hurricane Florence, as things happened around Raleigh.

Ergo, lots of pics of preparations, and after-storm actions. Exactly one incident, wires on fire, during the worst of the local weather. 

And may add a few more bits and pieces, in the coming weeks, as other interesting things are spotted around town. 

montage-2

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Raleigh’s New Pierce Fire Apparatus

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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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