The Raleigh Fire Department replaced Battalion 1 last month with a 2018 (?) Ford Police Interceptor, a first for the fire department. Nice push bar! Replaces a 200_ Chevy Tahoe. Photographed by Lee Wilson.
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Remembering Bay Leaf Fire Tower Operator Jenny Tilley
Cornelia “Jenny” Crabtree Tilley, 90, passed away in Raleigh last week. She was the longtime operator of the Bay Leaf forestry fire tower, first located at Six Forks Road, a half-mile north of “Six Forks” (1937-1968) and then moved to Howard Road, just west of Creedmoor Road (1968-present). Click to enlarge:
She was one of the first female tower operators in the state, and served until the tower was closed in 1985. She then became secretary to Wake County Ranger Albert Coley. Ms. Tilley retired in [TBD].
Her husband was the late George “Buck” Tilley, also a Wake County Forest Ranger and a thirty-one year employee of the forest service. He passed away in 1971 and is remembered with a plaque at the Howard Road site. Click to enlarge:
Ms. Tilley is survived by her children Jerry (and Patsy) Tilley and David (and Nancy) Tilley, and their six grandchildren and eleven (!) great-grandchildren. As well as her special friend Pat Toothman.
The funeral service was held yesterday, at Mitchell Funeral Home. Burial followed at Brier Creek Memorial Park. Read her obituary, which includes over 120 photos, including these historical images of Ms. Tilley at work:
The Bay Leaf fire tower is still standing. Here are some aerial views of the site. Or read this text history:
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Burke County Firefighter Struck, Killed While Clearing Debris
Triple Community Fire Department firefighter Jason Keith Hensley, 40, was killed on Sunday night, while clearing debris on Highway 70 East near Drexel Road in Morganton.
The fire department was dispatched to a tree blocking both east- and westbound lanes of the highway, just before midnight. Hensley responded in his personal vehicle, and a second firefighter responded with a piece of apparatus. Hensley arrived on scene about 11:45 p.m.
At approximately 11:53 p.m., Hensley was struck by a pick-up truck traveling eastbound, which subsequently struck two other vehicles at the scene, including Hensley’s personal vehicle, which had warning lights activated.
Hensley, wearing reflective gear, was killed instantly upon impact.
Driver Randall Stewart, 55, was charged with driving while impaired and a number of other offenses. The accident is being investigated by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
Stormy weather impacted Burke County on Sunday, including a tornado that touched down southeast of Morganton.
Stories:
- News Herald
- WBTV
- WHKY
- WSOCTV
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Nine North Carolina Fallen Firefighters To Be Honored at National Memorial Service on Sunday, October 8
Press release. The 36th Annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service will honor nine firefighters who died in the line of duty from North Carolina. They are among the 75 firefighters who died in 2016 and 20 firefighters who died in previous years who will be remembered at the official national service at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD, on Sunday, October 8, 2017.
Click to enlarge:
- David Kevin Britt
Fire Chief, age 54
Severn Volunteer Fire Department
Died June 18, 2016, after suffering a heart attack at his home several hours after responding to a motor vehicle accident.
- John M. Davis, Jr.
Firefighter, age 45
Kenly Fire Department
Died May 7, 2016, after experiencing chest pains within 24-hours from assisting with a patient extrication at the scene of a motor vehicle accident.
- Bradley Steven Long
Captain, age 28
Sherrills Ford-Terrill Fire and Rescue
Died June 6, 2016, while diving at Lake Norman to recover the body of a man who drowned the day before.
- Richard Michael Sheltra
Firefighter, age 20
Pineville-Morrow Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue
Died April 30, 2016, during a lightning-sparked commercial structure fire at a strip mall.
- Prentice Jay Tyndall
Firefighter, age 45
Hugo Volunteer Fire & Rescue
Died May 12, 2016, after falling ill following his response to a mutual aid structure fire on May 8, 2016.
- James Ronald Varnell
Firefighter, age 53
Bakertown Volunteer Fire Department
Died February 2, 2016, after becoming ill immediately following his participation in department training.
- Joshua Lee Warren
Firefighter, age 33
Alexis Fire Department
Died June 16, 2016, after participating in department-mandated physical fitness training.
- Joshua M. Woods
Firefighter, age 24
Siler City Fire Department
Died January 12, 2016, from injuries sustained in a crash while responding to a call for a reported cardiac arrest.
- Tommy Wright
Firefighter, age 20
Blowing Rock Fire and Rescue
Died March 21, 2010, after a car accident on the way back from training.
Their names will be added to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial on the Academy grounds. The national tribute is sponsored by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Fire Administration.
Thousands are expected to attend the service, including families and friends of the fallen firefighters, members of Congress, Administration officials and other dignitaries.
Families will receive flags flown over the U. S. Capitol and the National Memorial. Members of the fire service, honor guard units and pipe and drum units from across the country will participate in this national tribute. For a complete list of fallen firefighters being honored and live streaming of the event, visit weekend.firehero.org.
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Raleigh Fire Department Announces Annual Hiring Process
The Raleigh Fire Department has announced a new annual hiring process, with application periods to be conducted each year from November 1 through November 30. Selected applicants will start the annual fire academy in late spring.
Hiring Process
The hiring process takes approximately six months to complete and includes accepting applications, written exams, physical agility testing, background checks, interviews, drug test, physical examinations, and psychological evaluation.
The academy is scheduled to begin each year in April and with graduation scheduled for November. The hiring timeline will be also be evaluated each year, to determine if the department needs are being met.
All interested candidates must visit www.raleighnc.gov/employment to complete an online application during the month of November.
Requirements
Firefighters must be thoroughly fit in order to meet the rigorous physical demands of the job. They must also be able to think and act quickly in emergencies.
Before a new firefighter recruit is employed, hiring officials must be sure that he or she is capable of learning to operate complex mechanical equipment, as well as safely working in hazardous situations.
Each prospective member must also meet high character standards; since he or she will be entrusted with the safety and property of citizens and co-workers. Applicants must be able to work as part of a team.
For more information, contact Captain James Hill, james.hill@raleighnc.gov.
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Raleigh Recruit Academy 42 – Videos
October 3
Also posted is this City of Raleigh video of last week’s graduation ceremony. Meet the recruits in this earlier blog post:
September 29
This was shown at the graduation ceremony this week of Raleigh Fire Department Recruit Academy 42. Great footage, great editing! Created by Krahe and Stepp Videos.
With day drone footage from Yours Truly, and numerous stills from myself and Lee Wilson. Meet the recruits in this earlier blog post:
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Meet Raleigh’s New Firefighters – Recruit Academy 42 Graduates on Wednesday
October 3
Update. See these photos and video recordings:
September 24
On Wednesday night, September 27, thirty-six new firefighters will join the ranks of the Raleigh Fire Department. Recruit Academy 42 will graduate in a ceremony at 7:00 p.m. at the Fletcher Opera Theater in the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. South Street.
The new firefighters have completed over 1,000 hours of classroom, practical and physical fitness training. Each of them will be certified by the State of North Carolina as a Firefighter Level II, Emergency Medical Technician, and Hazardous Materials Responder I.
Their 32-week academy started on February 20. And in a change from prior academies, fire training preceding EMT training, instead of following it. Most of their instruction was conducted at the Keeter Training Center in downtown Raleigh. Click to enlarge:
Mike Legeros photo
Names and Faces
Back row, left to right: Continue reading ‘Meet Raleigh’s New Firefighters – Recruit Academy 42 Graduates on Wednesday’ »
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As a Friend of First Responders… Thank You
Thank you to the Greater Raleigh Chamber, for this morning’s honor of being named the 2017 Friend of First Responders, at their annual First Responders Appreciation Breakfast.
It remains my privilege and great pleasure to be the “keeper of history” for our local emergency services. For fifteen years now, I’ve been playing photographer and blogger and historian and author, and it’s been a blast. And I’m a proud member of so many families.
Fire and EMS and law enforcement… they are the stories that I tell, and theirs is the support that has made my work possible. Thanks, all, for your support, and for what you do. You are the ones with the heavy lifting. Mine is an easier task, just watching, and recording, and telling the stories. See you on scene.
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Wake County Fire Commission Meeting – Thursday, September 21
The next meeting of the Wake County Fire Commission is Thursday, September 21, 2017, at the Wake County Emergency Service Education Center, 221 South Rogers Lane. The meeting’s in Suite 160, the large conference room. Starts at 7:00 p.m.
Agenda is below. View the meeting documents.
- Meeting Called to Order: Chairman Billy Myrick
- Invocation
- Pledge of allegiance
- Roll of Members Present
- Barry Doyle Proclamation
- Items of Business
- Approval of Agenda
- Adoption of Minutes for July 20, 2017 Regular Meeting
- Public Comments
- Comments from the public will be received at the time appointed by the Chairman of the Fire Commission for 30 minutes maximum time allotted, with a maximum of 3 minutes per person. A signup sheet for those who wish to speak during the public comments section of the meeting is located at the entrance of the meeting room.
- Regular Agenda
- Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Request
- Information Agenda
- Fire Tax Financial Report
- Standing Committee Updates
- Administrative
- Apparatus
- Budget
- Communications
- Equipment
- Facility
- Staffing and Compensation
- Steering
- Training
- Chair Report
- Fire Services Director Report
- Other Business
- Adjournment
- Next Meeting November 16, 2017
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More Vintage Wallops Flight Facility Fire Apparatus
By way of a this thread in the Facebook group Fire & Rescue Apparatus 25 Years And Older, from Aaron Moore and originally photographed by someone at WFFFD, here are vintage rigs NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility fire department.
They’ve been added to my department profile and Antares rocket explosion recap, which originated as a blog post in April 2015.
Pictured are:
- 1970s (?) Yankee/Walter crash truck
- 1970s (?) Oshkosh MB5 crash trucks (2)
- 1978 ______/Swab ambulance
- 1980 Pemfab/PTI pumpers, 1000/500/40 (2)
- 1980 White Commander II/Almont Welding Works runway foamer, 650/7000/1200
Click to enlarge:
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