Early History of Greensboro-High Point Airport Fire Department

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For your weekend reading, let’s tool over to the Triad, for an early history of the Greensboro-High Point airport fire department. And an early history of Guilford County Fire Services, which provided the “crash crew” staffing starting in 1966. 

The story starts in 1962, with the deadly crash of a military transport and the resulting criticism of the airport’s firefighting capabilities. The plane crash, that killed seven servicemen including the cousin of the governor, brought attention to a problem… that was already being addressed.

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As the local newspapers soon reported, a committee was already examining the issue of the airport’s fire protection, and in particular preparation for new FAA regulations that were forthcoming. 

New apparatus was soon purchased, including one of only eight American LaFrance Airport Chief crash trucks ever built. Full-time firefighters were hired and an airport fire station building was erected.

The new fire station also the county fire marshal’s office and a communication center for the dispatching of the rural fire departments in Guilford County. Fire support vehicles, for use county-wide, were later housed there, including units for disaster and oil spill responses. 

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Here’s the new site: www.legeros.com/history/stories/pti-airport 

Click around, see what you think. And please pass along comments, corrections, edits, and inputs. Or any other photos, worth adding.

Sources, you ask? Did this required a ton of driving between Greensboro and Raleigh? Negative and just the opposite. Most was done via NewsBank, which brokers the digital archives of the Greensboro News-Record. Very affordable rates. 

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Wake Public Safety PIO Consortium and a Conversation with Jeff Hammerstein

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On April 20, Wake County EMS Assistant Chief of Community Outreach Jeff Hammerstein conducted the first in a planned series of public information officer (PIO) workshops for Wake County public safety agencies. Called the Wake Public Safety PIO Consortium, it was held at the Garner police station.

The hour-long discussion talked about the typical approach to media interaction among fire, EMS, and law enforcement agencies, and the importance of developing more cooperative working relationships with news-reporting agencies.

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Garner Police Department photo

We’ve invited Chief Hammerstein to talk about the workshop, the topic, and himself.

His Background

18558991_10213272916206604_5324445001731592364_o (1)Jeff Hammerstein is a lifelong member of the EMS profession, first as a longtime EMT beginning in 1985 at Garner Rescue Squad, and as paramedic with Wake County EMS since 1988. Over the last twelve years, he’s gained extensive experience working with media on behalf of EMS, and has presented on the topic at a number of EMS-related conferences.

And including as a co-presenter with Yours Truly, on the topic of social media and public information! See those slides.

The second Wake Public Safety PIO Consortium workshop is next week, on Friday, August 4, at 11:30 p.m. The Garner Police Department is again hosting. They’re located at 912 Seventh Avenue. The presenter will be WRAL News Reporter Amanda Lamb. She’ll talk about media perspectives on covering emergency scenes. Contact Jeff for more information, jeffrey.hammerstein@wakegov.com.

Let’s talk with Jeff…

The Conversation

Q: Thanks for participating, Jeff. Tell me about your background in public information, and about your current role.
A: As a field paramedic during the 1990s, I was occasionally assigned to talk to reporters, usually about things like responding in winter weather or the difficulty of navigating traffic on the way to calls…

Q: Chosen for your flat or non-accent, perhaps?
A: Well probably not. I grew up in Indiana and mixed in a North Carolina tone when I got here. People from both states have told me I talk weird!

Q: Ha.
A: But over time, after talking with reporters, I saw how positive the exposure for EMS was, when we were willing to participate in those news stories. And even when they were simple stories about day-to-day practices.

In the early 2000s, I started thinking about the concept of offering up stories for media in addition to just responding to their occasional requests. I felt like the more exposure we received, the more awareness people would have about EMS.

Q: Did it work?
A: It worked great! The benefits of better understanding were enormous, and we didn’t have to just sit back and wait for reporters to come to us. Continue reading ‘Wake Public Safety PIO Consortium and a Conversation with Jeff Hammerstein’ »

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Bicyclist Finds Bee Sting Victim, Records Fire/EMS Response

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Here’s a rarity, a citizen recording of an entire EMS call, from just after calling 911, to transport of the patient. Raleigh and New Hope fire departments, and Wake County EMS responded.

Happened on July 7, when C. Spencer was bicycling on the Neuse River Greenway and happened upon an adult male suffering from multiple bee stings and nearly unconscious. He posted this footage, which runs twenty minutes. 

Here’s the accompanying narrative:

On July 7th 2017 I found this a man on the Neuse River Greenway nearly unconscious. He had more than 60 stings on the face chest and back. He had made contact with a bee colony while walking off trail through the woods. 

I instructed his wife call EMS while I loaded him on my bike trailer, the trail head was less than 1 mile away but the ambulance could not reach him at this location as it was far too wide and heavy for the trail. 

I opened his pack of cigarettes and ground them up in my hands putting the tobacco on the majority of the sting locations on his chest and shoulders. (nicotine acts as a local anesthetic for the bee stings and aids by reducing swelling). Nicotine is also water-soluble so buy keeping his shirt on his chest damp, it aids in the nicotine absorption from his tobacco to his sting locations.

Once EMS arrived they administered the standard treatment for anaphylactic shock, which is an IV dose of epinephrine and a histamine blocker. 

Local EMS from FROM FIRE STATION 21 arrived on location in less than 15 minutes, they did an outstanding job stabilizing and treating the bee sting victim. 

If you are walking off trail please be aware that there are many wild bee colonies in the woods, in addition to wasp, yellow jackets, and hornets which will often attack if provoked. If you are allergic to insect stings then please carry and dose of epinephrine on you in the form of either an epipine or adrenaclick auto-injector unit.

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Voice of America Fire Department

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In 1962, construction of the world’s largest radio broadcasting station was completed in eastern North Carolina. Built by the United States government for its Voice of America shortwave service, the facility was spread across three sites in two counties.

Site A (Beaufort) and Site B (Pitt) housed the transmitting facilities. They were nearly identical, each about 2750 square feet. Site C, also in Pitt county, was smaller with 644 acres. It housed the receiving facilities, program master control, communications center, and station main offices. The three sites formed an equilateral triangle, approximately 23 miles on each side, around Greenville, N.C.

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The facility and its three sites required a robust infrastructure, which included rigging teams; electronic, electric, and mechanical shops; on-site manufacture of certain parts; warehousing and stock needs; security and guards; road maintenance; field mowing; and firefighting capabilities.

Shown below is Hose Company No. 1, which operated a pumper with an International Load Star chassis in 1968. Each of the three sites had hose companies. Read more in this short history of the VOA fire department.

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Locust Fire Department Early History

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Random history. Locust Fire Department in Stanly County. Reprinted from the booklet Locust, N.C. – Centennial Celebration – 1869-1969, via Digital, NC. Download original.

Original Text

The idea for a fire department originated with the Locust Lions Club, under the direction of President Pete Burleson. The club raised the first $500 of the goal of $2,500. Con1ributions were sought and within a few days $2,800 had been raised.

Hugh J. Little, Pete Burleson, Harold Furr. Glenn Almond, and A. J. Furr were on the committee which handled the campaign and went to Camden, S. C. to arrange the purchase of a truck.

It was a former Air Force crash truck which had been utilized as a fire truck by the Camden department. [The 1943 Ford] was a 650 gallon capacity. Click to enlarge:

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The Lions Club appointed the first fire chief, Ritchie Tucker, to serve. Then Volunteer firemen were asked to join the department. The Locust Fire Department was the first rural fire department to be organized in Stanly County.

Under the leadership of Chief Ritchie Tucker, the fire department and assets grew by leaps and bounds for the next 6 years. The support from the whole community was tremendous.

Continue reading ‘Locust Fire Department Early History’ »

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Northern Wake Fire Department Ceremony – Sunday, July 23

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On Sunday, July 22, at 2:00 p.m., Northern Wake Fire Department is conducting a ceremony at Station 1 at 11713 Six Forks Road.

The event will celebrate the creation of the new organization, which started operation on July 1 as a consolidation of Bay Leaf and Stony Hill fire departments.

And they’ll dedicate Rescue 35, a recently delivered 2017 Pierce Velocity, with a wet-down and push-in ceremony.

See prior postings about the new department and their new rescue. Plus this posting with audio of Stony Hill signing off on July 1.

More about NWFD: web site | Facebook | Twitter

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Stony Hill Signs Off – July 1, 2017

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Archiving here, which we mentioned at the beginning of the month on Facebook and Twitter. 

Stony Hill Rural Fire Department singing off at midnight on July 1, 2017, and starting operation as part of the newly created Northern Wake Fire Department. 

That’s longtime fire chief A.C. Rich on the radio.

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Wake County Fire Commission Meeting – July 20, 2017

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A regular meeting of the Wake County Fire Commission will be held on Thursday, July 20, 2017. The location is the Wake County Emergency Service Education Center, 221 South Rogers Lane. They’ll be in Suite 160, the large conference room. The meeting 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
    • PresentAppointments of Alternate Voting Members
  • Items of Business
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Adoption of Minutes for March 16, 2017 Regular Meeting
    • Adoption of Minutes for May 4, 2017 Special Called Meeting
  • Public Comments:
    • Comments from the public, on items not on the agenda, will be received at this time, 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
    • North Region Subcommittee Appointments
    • Adoption – Fire Commission Rules of Procedure
    • Consolidation of Fire Commission Subcommittees
  • 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 September 21, 2017
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Burlington and Graham Fire Alarm Box Locations – 1920-21

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Updated with some tips on using the DigitalNC site, for browsing, reading, and downloading city directories. Scroll to bottom.

Random history. Fire alarm box locations in the towns of Burlington and Graham, as printed in the Burlington, Graham and Haw River, N.C. City Directory, 1920-21. It’s one of hundreds available from DigitalNC.

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Interested in the history of your fire department? Look to city directories for summary information,  station addresses, and even the names of members, with their occupation (BFD, “fire dept”, etc.) beside their name and address.

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Some city directories also included a list of fire alarm box locations, in those cities and towns with such systems. As memory serves, these lists appear in earlier versus later directories. Say, 1890s, 1900s, 1910s, 1920s.  Your mileage may vary.

Click to enlarge:

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Tips ‘n’ Tricks

What’s the best way to browse these city directories on the Digital NC site, and without convoluted click paths or endless searching and scrolling? Here’s my workflow, though be warned, it requires some up-front time and bandwidth.

  1. Find the city or town that you’re seeking.
  2. Find the earliest city directory available.
  3. Open that directory in a new window.
  4. Click Download and save a PDF copy. This may take a few minutes, as these files are large.
  5. Close that window, and repeat with the next available directory.
  6. Rinse and repeat, until you’ve saved copies of all available directories.
  7. Open the first of the saved directories, which are PDF files.
  8. Use the PDF reader on your computer to easily browse, scroll, or even search (using Find) for text strings.

But wait, Batman, what about the search featured, in the individual directory display window? That’s also useful, but can be a bit clunky. If searching on two or more words, use quotation marks. Such as “fire alarm.”

There’s also powerful search features on other screens, such as the one listing all available years for a particularly city or town. And across all of the city directories, and all of DigitalNC.

Happy hunting! 

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Seagate Fire Department – Vintage Apparatus, Corporate Dissolution

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More random history.

The Seagate (also spelled Sea Gate) Volunteer Fire Department in New Hanover County, outside Wilmington, was formed in 1940 to protect of the fishing community to help protect along Bradley Creek and Greenville Sound. The first apparatus was a 1931 automobile with three drums mounted on the back and a fan belt-powered pump. The first (?) fire station location was 122 Sebrell Avenue. The department moved in 1955 to 6012 Oleander Drive.

Vintage Apparatus

Lee Wilson photographed the department’s apparatus on March 1, 1992. See the original versions. Click to enlarge:

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Pictured left to right, top to bottom are:

  • Engine 791, 1970 Ford/Hahn
  • Engine 794, 1988 Ford/Boyer
  • Unit 761
  • Tanker 746, 1983 Ford, 3500 gallons
  • Engine 792, 1970 Ford/American LaFrance

Corporate Dissolution

The Seagate fire district was eventually impacted by city annexation. In 1985, over 55 percent of their district was consumed. In 2005, the remained was annexed and they ceased operation and dissolved the corporation. Here’s the plan they filed with the Secretary of State, with their articles of dissolution.

President: Thomas Eric White
Vice President: Tim Wilson
Secretary/Treasurer: Mike Garner
Directors: Thomas Eric White, Tim Wilson, Mike Garner, Shawn Schilling,Ron Twigg, Sidney Daniels

Dissolution of the corporation authorized on August 16, 2005. Effective upon filing on December 5, 2005.

Background Statement

The corporation was incorporated March 29, 1956 as a volunteer fire department in New Hanover County and has existed as such, providing fire protection for the residents of New Hanover County since that date. By the summer of 2005, the City of Wilmington had annexed substantially all of the area previously served by the department, providing fire protection services through its own fire department. At that time, the decision was taken by the directors, officers, and members of the corporation to terminate the corporate business and dissolve the corporation. In general terms, the plan so approved calls for the liquidation and disposal of the corporate assets and distribution of net cash proceeds therefrom to certain local churches which have been supportive of the department during its existence.

Plan

  1. Real Property. The real property is to be sold, with structures intact, to the City of Wilmington. To this end, the corporation has accepted an offer to purchase from the City of Wilmington at a price of $650,000.00. This purchase and sale is to be completed as quickly as possible, consistent with the needs of the parties. The fire department of the City of Wilmington will begin occupying and operating the real property as a fire station no later than October 1, 2005, and during the period necessary to complete the transfer of ownership. When the sale is completed, the net proceeds from the sale will be retained by the corporation for distribution in accordance with this Plan.
  2. Personal Property. All marketable apparatus and other vehicles owned by the corporation will be sold. Those apparatus or vehicles which lack significant value or marketability because of age or condition will be donated to other fire departments which are able to use them. Equipment associated with each apparatus will be offered with the apparatus, with any rejected items retained by the corporation for disposal by sale or donation, depending upon the nature and age of the equipment.
  3. Cash. All cash assets of the corporation, including the proceeds from the liquidation of corporate non-cash assets will be retained in the corporate treasury pending dissolution. After payment of all obligations of the corporation and costs of dissolution, the funds will be distributed.’
  4. Distribution. The corporation does not own any assets requiring transfer, return, or conveyance. Prior to distribution of cash assets all obligations or liabilities of the corporation shall be paid. When liabilities or obligations are satisfied and all costs and expenses of dissolution are paid the remaining cash assets will be distributed to the following religious organizations in the percentages indicated.

Sea Gate Baptist Church 30%
Oleander Methodist Church 30%
St. Andrews On the Sound Episcopal Church 10%
Windemere Presbyterian Church 10%
St. Matthew A.M.E. Church 10%
Pilgrims Rest Baptist Church 10%

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