Kenansville Fire Department Starts Ambulance Service, 1955

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“Believed to be the only ambulance as such owned by a volunteer fire department in North Carolina,” noted the Duplin Times on July 14, 1955. See article below

Definitely one of the earliest. What other volunteer (only) departments were operating ambulances at that time?

That’s the open question to readers, to accompany these neat pictures and a bit of history shared by our friends in Kenansville. Top is a 1962 Carryall, from around 1964. Bottom left is a 1968 Chevy, one of three. Department-owned, though KFD received some county monies to operate. Bottom right is a 1975 Chevy Type I. Bought new and customized in Kinston.

Fire Chief Danny Chambers shares this history:

Kenansville FD operated EMS services until 2004, when they ceased operations on February 14. Duplin County EMS was providing service by that time, but primarily Monday to Friday, during daytime hours. On April 1, 2004, DCEMS started their first 24/7 shift, with one unit, and supplemented by the volunteer EMS units that were still active. (Our neighbors Warsaw EMS had recently shut down operations as well.)

By that fall, DCEMS had six 24/7 units. They progressed to paramedic level within months. Today, they operate eight units, and only two volunteer EMS units still operate.

Basically, KFD ran an ambulance from 1955-2004. They were mostly “load and go” until 1966, when the first ambulance service studies and white papers came out. Then in 1978, the funeral homes here gave notice that they were getting out of the ambulance business. Duplin County then organized what they called a “rescue unit” (ambulance) that consisted of three volunteer trucks, all manned by FDs. With more units started in the next few years. The county eventually had three rescue/EMS only stations and five FD-run ambulances.

Because we were centralized, KFD was tasked with responding with the first hydraulic rescue tools in the county. In 1978, the Duplin County Rescue Association purchased a Hurst rescue tool. It was placed on a 1974 Chevy truck with a Reading service/utility body. The truck was KFD owned. For a period of time, this was the only extrication tool in Duplin county. Later, other departments started adding them. We owned and operated this Hurst tool until 1995, when we purchased a set of Halmatro tools. The original Hurst tools were sold to Dover FD.

We initially carried only basic rescue equipment in the ambulance. Hand tools, jacks, etc. The 1962 Carryall served as both our ambulance and rescue unit. It was designated unit 156. We still perform vehicle and machinery extrication. Only department in Duplin County is classified as a light-duty rescue, I believe, and that’s Faison FD.

At KFD, we had two rosters, one for fire and one for EMS. However, most of our EMS personnel were also firefighters and had to meet training requirements for both.

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Chapel Hill’s 1980 Mack… Was Almost a Seagrave

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Mack CF pumpers were popular trucks in these parts. Chapel Hill had a 1980 model… that was almost a Seagrave. Here’s that story.

After soliciting bids for a new pumping engine that year, the town awarded the contract to Seagrave for $112,832.35. The other bidders were Central Mack Sales in Raleigh, Howe Fire Apparatus, Jack Cocke and Co. in Alabama, and Jack Slagle’s dealership in South Boston.

One year later, the town learned that Seagrave had filed for bankruptcy. And no apparatus would be delivered. In December 1981, Central Mack Sales was awarded the revised/replacement bid.

Price of $116,817 for model number CF 686F (12)-1398, which was a stock truck. Delivery in 20 working days. 

See minutes below, and later-decade photo from Lee Wilson. 

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Chapel Hill Buys Ex-Airport Pumper, 1963

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Wait, what?

See these town minutes* from February 16, 1963. As it turns out, Chapel Hill’s 1962** American LaFrance pumper was a gently used model, that had been serving at the “Greenville airbase” for about three months, while the airport awaited delivery of a crash truck. Bought for $20,500, versus what would cost $26,000 new.

As was customary during those decades, the University agreed to pay half. 

* Town minutes are available online and as far back as 1952. Wow! For max efficiency, however, you’ll need to (a.) download each, (b.) combine the PDF files, and (c.) perform OCR, to make them the most usable. Such as using Adobe Acrobat. 

** Model year 1962 as best as can tell, though have seen citations as 1960.

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Lee Wilson photo

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Four Shelby Firefighters Killed in Explosion, May 25, 1979

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Update April 11, 2019 – Though initially suspected as caused by a natural gas explosion, it was later eliminated by investigators. Instead, they suspect a backdraft caused the explosion. See the detailed OSFM retrospective below. Updated this posting headline, changing “gas explosion” to “explosion” to reflect that important clarification. 

This retrospective first appeared on FireNews.net in 2006, as the North Carolina Fallen Firefighter’s Foundation dedicated their new memorial in Raleigh. It also appears on my fallen firefighter’s history page. This posting also replaces a 2009 blog posting that linked to other retrospectives, which are now unavailable. 

Apparently Routine Fire

One of the darkest days in North Carolina’s fire service history started as a smoke investigation in downtown Shelby around 6:15 p.m. Firefighters arrived in the 100 block of West Warren Street and found an apparently routine fire in the rear of Geoffrey’s Men’s Clothing Store. About thirty minutes into the incident, a sudden blast shook the store and sent bricks and glass flying into the streets. Walls had collapsed, firefighters were buried, and heavy fire and smoke was pouring from the rear of the two-story structure.

Four firefighters and a civilian gas department employee were dead. Another 12 firefighters were injured. Killed instantly in the street in front of the building were volunteer firefighter George Magness, 44, career firefighter Nathan Hall, 27, and volunteer firefighter Donald Melton, 24. Magness was also the chief of the 12-member volunteer fire department. Career firefighter Floyd “Nicky” Sharts, 31, was found dead beneath the rubble in the alley behind the building. Gas department employee Max Bowling, who had apparently gone to the scene to shut off the building’s gas supply, was also found dead in the alley.

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Lem Lynch photos

Believed caused by a backdraft in a void between the building’s first and second floors, the explosion snapped surrounding trees in two, twisted street lamps, and destroyed a 1972 American LaFrance pumper. Some 50 people were on the sidewalk when the building exploded and 31 were injured. By sunset, the streets were filled with thousands of onlookers.

Ten Fire Departments for Mutual Aid

Mutual aid from Cleveland, Boiling Springs, Boiling Springs Rural, Grover, Kings Mountain, Oak Grove, Shanghai, Waco, Fallston, and Polkville brought over 230 firefighters to the scene. Tractors and front-end loaders were also employed to remove rubble so firefighters could battle the blaze.

Within hours, the entire block was lost. Geoffrey’s Men’s Clothing Store, J.E.’ Department Store, the Bible Book Store, Wonderland Toys, Butler’s Shoe Store, and Eleanor Shops were destroyed. Damages totaled $5 million.

Intentionally Set

Investigators, which included dozens of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, later determined that the fire had been intentionally set. The owner of the store was convicted on five counts of voluntary manslaughter and served 10 years of a 90-year jail term.

Five separate funerals were conducted on Sunday, May 19, and hundreds of the city’s 17,000 residents filled a local church for a memorial service the next day. A memorial fountain at Shelby’s Charles Road fire station bears the names of their fallen heroes.

OSFM Looks Back

Read a retrospective (PDF) from the Winter 2006 OSFM Fire-Rescue Journal by Melissa R. Lentz. The article includes contact information (at the time) for photographer Lem Lynch.

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Zebulon Fire Department Facility and Fleet Study

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In February 2018, the town of Zebulon received the results of a fire facilities and fleet study (pdf) conducted by Brooks Innovative Solutions, from Greensboro. 

It examined the fire department’s current infrastructure, historic and projected call volume and service now, and property and population development past ‘n’ present.

And both in the municipal and rural fire protection districts–the latter of which is provided through contract protection with the county.

What did they find?

Here’s the short version…

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Facility

  • One fire station, built in 1974. Expanded in 1980s with additional bay space and larger training room. Expanded again in 1990s to add office and equipment space and increase bay space. Renovated in 2000s to add sleeping quarters and other interior changes.
  • Based on current and projected demand and growth, second fire station isn’t needed. BUT the current fire station needs to be replaced and relocated.
  • Building is undersized and does not provide critical infrastructure for either fire department public. Station square feet, for example, is less than 50% the size of a comparable prototype station. See study for details of deficiencies.
  • New station location is also needed, to better serve the district(s). Suggested spot is around US 64/264 and Arendell Avenue. Recommend develop plans for relocation. Seek participation with both county Fire Services and county EMS.
  • The replacement station should be 13,500 to 18,000 square feet and include features of the Wake County Prototype Headquarters Station. Site should large enough to include some “drill yard” capabilities, e.g. 2.5 to 3.5 acres. Suggested estimated budget ~$350,000 for planning and design, and $3.5 to $4.5 million for land and construction.
  • Develop long-term plan for additional fire stations, looking 15 to 20 years forward. And, alas, the Green Pace Road property, purchased some years ago as a potential Station 2 site, be repurposed for other use than emergency response. It’s location isn’t ideal. (Though at the time of site selection, there were plans for development in that area.)

Fleet

  • Current fleet includes three pumpers, one aerial platform, one medium rescue, one brush truck, one tanker, two command/support vehicles, and one utility vehicle. (No apparatus are designated as reserve, but units can be moved around to cover as needed.)
  • Fleet is aging, with several pieces well past the age of using as reserve or retired. Ladder 95 is 31 years old. Pumpers are 21, 11, and nine years old. Average fleet age is 14 years.
  • Immediately replace Ladder 95, a 102-foot platform, and with a 75- or 85-foot platform on a lighter and much shorter chassis.
  • Replace Pumper 91 the following year.
  • Consider configuring either Ladder 95 or Pumper 91 replacements as a rescue ladder or rescue pumper. This would help reduce fleet size, result in more efficient unit usage, relieve some floor space requirement, etc.
  • Develop a fleet capital plan, and begin programming replacements for Pumper 94 and Pumper 92. And use a vehicle score card system (as used in study) or similar process to help manage fleet replacement and capital program.

Bits & Pieces

  • Town was planning for growth and expanded services in mid- to late-2000s, including land purchased for a second fire station. Then economy shifted and developed slowed to nearly a stop. Took eight years before demand for services returned to 2017 levels.
  • Growth is projected to escalate significantly over the next decade or more. One study suggests that the town’s population could triple by 2030.
  • Department has ISO ratings of 3 (town) and 4 (rural district). They protect 10,000 people in area covering 29 (!) square miles. Four miles in town and 25 in rural district.
  • Town and rural districts are “intertwined and inextricable.” The fire department has served both so effectively and for so long that the “combined jurisdiction is seen as the entire community.”
  • From a ten-year study, total responses are 68% in town and 31% out of town. For 2016-2017, calls outside their jurisdiction (mutual aid and service agreements) comprised just 84 responses.
  •  Rescue and EMS remain the largest percentage of all call types, and growth is forecast as nearly flat. Fire incidents are the third largest percentage of all call types. Though they have the highest risk for major loss, the gross number of these calls has been declining for the last decade. This is expected to continue.

Read the study (pdf)

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Report on Recommended Budgets

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The local city and county governments have been releasing their proposed budgets for FY19. Here are some highlights, from around the area…

Raleigh – Web Site

No added positions
New aerial ladder
New pumper
Funding for long-term staffing study
Funding for driver-operator course planning ($200,000)
Station 1 project funding, continued ($15.6M)

Absent is Station 3 or Station 30. Included is $22M for police training center.

Apex – Web Site

Aerial for Station 5, $12M
Station 1 renovation, $1.6M

And some CIP notes of note. New Ladder 3 in FY21, Station 6 in FY20, FY21, new Ladder 4 in FY22, Admin building in FY21, etc. 

Cary – Web Site

Two aerial ladders, replacing two 2003 models – $2,750,000
Hire 12 firefighters in January 2019, to staff a ladder company for western Cary

Fuquay-Varina – Web Site

Four full-time personnel added (FFs?)
Ladder truck, $900,000

And CIP note of note. Station 4 mentioned as project for FY20, FY21.

Holly Springs – Web Site

Three Fire Engineers, one Asst. Fire Chief (Fire Marshal?)

Requested but not approved/recommended, new ladder truck.

Morrisville – Web Site

Pending

Zebulon – Web Site

Replace Ladder 95
Replace Engine 91
Start multi-year process to relocate and build a bigger fire station

Wake County – Web Site

Fire Services

No added positions for Fire Services
$1.3M for fire apparatus and vehicles
$3.9M for construction of Wendell Falls fire/EMS station
Additional funding for staffing at five fire tax district-serving FDs

EMS

Add two 12-hour ambulance units
Adding 13 FTE positions

Durham – Web Site

Adding 70 (!) positions, 53 FF and two civilian positions transferred from Durham County Fire-Rescue, which merges with the city on July 1.

Plus 15 FF positions, drum roll, for a heavy rescue to be stationed downtown at Station 1.

Durham County – Web Site

Five new ambulances
One new community paramedic position

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After 47 Years of Service, Apex EMS is Ending

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Last week, the town of Apex announced that their EMS service is ending on June 30. Wake County EMS will begin providing service to the town, and Apex EMS will be dissolved as a town department. See the announcement below.

Apex Volunteer Rescue Squad was organized in 1971. Their first vehicle was a 1956 Pontiac Superior ambulance and their volunteer members served a town population of 2,000. They soon added two more ambulances, a 1972 Chevy van and a 1973 Chevrolet/Superior.

By the end of the decade, rescue services had started. The first “crash truck” was a Chevrolet C-30 “Squad 51” style truck equipped with a Hurst tool and other gear.

Apex Rescue operated out of the town hall until 1974, when their own quarters were completed at 315 W. Williams Street. The building–since expanded–has served as  their headquarters since that time.

The organization evolved over the decades. Their first full-time employee was hired in 1977, to answer calls during daytime hours.  They started paramedic services in 1993. They had also ended free transport services by that time. They and the other county squads began charging for patient transport in 1991. 

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Later History

In 1997, the organization was renamed Apex Emergency Medical Services, Inc. Two years earlier, or abouts, the squad had discontinued rescue services. In 2010, Apex EMS merged with the town, and became part of the fire department.

In 2011, a proposal was made to turn EMS over to Wake County. The proposal was rejected. Apex EMS instead separated from Apex Fire and began operating as a separate town department. Corporate disillusion of the private non-profit was also filed that year. 

In 2017, the Apex Community Auxiliary disbanded, after 45 years of service to the squad. They were formed in 1972, organized by spouses of squad volunteers. They conducted fundraisers, held special events, and performed numerous support functions. 

Read this blog posting about the group and how they disbursed their remaining funds to several community groups.

Read a history of Apex EMS on Mr. Blogger’s EMS history page.

See historical photos of Apex EMS on the History of EMS in Wake County Facebook page.

Town Announcement

Here’s the announcement from the town, posted as a press release link expired:https://www.apexnc.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=306].  

Change Ahead for EMS Service

Effective June 30, 2018, Apex residents will be served by Wake County Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and Apex EMS will be dissolved as a department within the Town of Apex. This decision was made at the direction of Apex town administration, with the full support of Wake County management, taking into consideration the rich history of Apex EMS, the employment of our EMS staff, and our fiscal responsibility to Apex residents.

How EMS has Evolved
Formed in 1971, Apex EMS was first organized as a group of volunteers, similar to most departments in the county. Most of these volunteer departments then gradually converted into professional paid organizations. Over time, all but 4 of the original 10 paid organizations have either combined to form a larger organization or have become a part of the Wake County Department of Emergency Medical Services. There are no other municipal-based EMS services in the county. The other partner organizations are Cary Area EMS and Eastern Wake EMS, both of which are not-for-profit organizations.

What’s Next for Our Employees
Apex EMS paramedics will be given the opportunity to work for Wake County EMS, with no reduction in salary. They will not be required to compete against other applicants for these jobs. Employees will, however, be required to go through the onboarding process with Wake County.

Level of Care
Wake County EMS develops standards of practice and treatment guidelines for all EMS providers within the Wake County EMS System. Therefore, Apex residents will continue to experience the same high level of care they receive today.

Fiscal Responsibility
One of the primary factors in transitioning to Wake EMS is that of fiscal responsibility to Apex citizens. There will be a cost savings due to the elimination of redundant administrative positions, as well as associated facility and supply costs. We’re also aware of plans by NCDOT to widen NC55, which will result in the loss of the Town of Apex EMS station. The cost to build that facility in a different location would be much greater if the town retained EMS services separate from Wake County’s department.

EMS Donated Funds
The town currently maintains about $76,000 in donated funds to Apex EMS. A volunteer board will be created to manage those funds in a way that honors the history of the department.

Questions regarding this information can be directed to Drew Havens, Apex Town Manager, at (919) 249-3301 or by email.

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New Rosenbauer Deliveries for Wake County

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Recent new deliveries from Rosenbauer for Wake County. Pics courtesy of C. W. Williams, via their Facebook page.

New Tanker – Fuquay-Varina

Wow! New custom-cab tanker for Fuquay-Varina Fire Department. First of a new tanker spec for Wake County. 2000 gallons, 500 GPM. Delivered but not in service yet. Wake Forest is/has also received one.

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New Fairview Engine 1

Here’s Fairview’s new Engine 1. 2018 Rosenbauer pumper-tanker, 1500/1000, with six-man cab. Already in service and caught a working fire with Swift Creek in its first 24 hours!

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New Durham Highway Pumper 162

And here’s Durham Highway’s new Pumper 1962. Recently delivered 2018 Rosenbauer pumper-tanker, 1500/1000. Planned to be placed in service on May 14. 

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Wake County Fire Commission Meeting Cancelled – May 17, 2018

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The Wake County Fire Commission meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 17, 2018, has been cancelled.

The next Wake County Fire Commission meeting will take place, Thursday, July 19, 2018.

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Cary’s New Engine 2

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Factory photo of Cary’s new Engine 2. Another shorter wheelbase pumper, similar (near identical?) to last year’s Engine 5. It’s a 2018 Pierce Enforcer, 1500/500. And with another New York-style low hose bed. 

See larger versions.

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