Durham County Receives Results of Fire Service Study, 2014

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This is a blog archives posting from February 5, 2014, and re-posted here as the original is unavailable due to technical issues.

February 5
Reports this Herald-Sun story[1], Durham County Commissioners will vote next week to endorse (or not) the recommendations of the recently receive fire protection study. On Monday, the Interim County Manager provided a lengthy briefing. There was also some voice disagreements by a fire chief, on points related to staffing requirement and composition of governing boards. The biggest change suggested by the study involves southern and western Durham County. In both areas, it’s recommended that the city fire department be instead contracted for fire protection. 

[1] Link now broken, http://www.heraldsun.com/news/x849281197/Commissioners-mull-fire-study-s-advice

December 31
Here’s a copy of the entire study (PDF, 1.5M).

Notes and observations:

  • Three county fire departments ceased ambulance operations in 2012. Bahama on December 31 of that year, and Bethesda and Redwood on June 31, 2012. Parkwood is the only county fire department that’s also an EMS provider.
  • Newer apparatus is recommended, particularly for nine pieces of frontline apparatus that should be replaced. Of the 39 pieces of major fire apparatus in the five departments, eleven were manufactured prior to 1991.
  • New station locations are recommended for Redwood Station 2 and Station 3, which the study cites should be “farther out” to improve their effectiveness. The study also raises the idea of a Bahama Station 4 in the northeastern corner of the county.
  • See page 56 for a map showing the planned location for Durham Station 17, located just up the road from Bethesda Station 2. Don’t have any idea on timeframe, and the project isn’t listed in the latest city CIP budget document. Maybe readers can assist.

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North Carolina Ambulance Service Study Results, 1965

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This is a blog archives posting from August 30, 2014, and re-posted here as the original is unavailable due to technical issues.

On April 1, 1963, a two-year study was started of ambulance service in North Carolina. Questionnaires were mailed to 718 ambulance providers, the majority of which were funeral homes. They were asked questions in categories of (a.) organization, (b.) area served, (c.) availability of service, (d.) equipment, (e.) services rendered, (f.) personnel, (g.) communications, (h.) records, (i.) financial, (j.) auto accidents, and (k.) opinion. Plus other data, including call details for one specific week of service.

Also contacted were 183 hospitals and 52 nursing homes, 100 county governments and 355 incorporated towns and cities, and 119 users of ambulance service (during a single week in October 1983). They were also asked both categorical questions as well as for general opinions. The medical care facilities also provided data.

The results were published in January 1965 as Organizing Ambulance Service in the Public Interest. It included seven pages of recommendations, notably of standards and principles and the recommendation to implement via legislation. Read the report (6.5M, PDF).

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History of an Abandoned Bridge in Raleigh

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This is a blog archives posting from September 5, 2014, and re-posted here as the original is unavailable due to technical issues.

Here’s a treat of a treat. Abandoned bridge over Crabtree Creek, just west of Crabtree Valley Mall. Specifically opposite Morehead Drive at Glenwood Avenue. Can be accessed both from the sidewalk on Glenwood, or a greenway trail on the other side of the bridge. And entirely unknown myself until this week. Talk about exciting!
 

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Youngstown Fire Forums, Apparatus Delivery Lists, Notes on NC

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This is a blog archives posting from September 14, 2014, and re-posted here as the original is unavailable due to technical issues.

Never heard of the Youngstown Fire Forums? That’s an extensive and active discussion board (or collection boards) operated by the Youngstown Fire Department in Ohio. The forum contains a lot of apparatus information, including threads with photos and details on particular makers and even particular rigs.

One of the site’s feature is a collection of apparatus delivery lists. Insert multiple exclamation points. Those lists are gold to fire historians. The listed makers include Ahrens-Fox, American, Boyer, FWD, John Bean, Mack (MB, MC, MR), Pierce, Stutz, and Sutphen. The list authors, who deserve heaps of recognition and appreciation, include Rodger Birchfield, Bill Friedrich, Ed Hass, Dave Organ, John Peckham, Greg Ricker, and Bob Studer.  Continue reading ‘Youngstown Fire Forums, Apparatus Delivery Lists, Notes on NC’ »

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FWD Fire Trucks Delivered in North Carolina

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This is a blog archives posting from September 14, 2014, and re-posted here as the original is unavailable due to technical issues.

Just learned about this excellent resource, the Youngstown Fire Forums delivery lists list. Includes this FWD fire apparatus users list supplied by Rodger Birchfield.

Just a few are listed in North Carolina. The fields are order number, city, model number, and delivery date:

  • 70070 – Raleigh, N.C. – F-75-T – 02-10-50
  • 70105 – Morehead City, N.C. – FR-50-T-H – 04-24-51
  • 70167 – Dunn, N.C. – F-75-T – 08-18-52
  • 70361 – Raliegh, N.C. – F-722 – 05-29-57
  • 70438 – Winston Salem, N.C. – F2F-1028 – 11-18-60
  • 70445 – Albermarle, N.C. – F2F-1030 – 12-30-60
  • 70639 – Winston Salem, N.C. – FF2-02 – 02-19-64

Readers can assist with details. Presume most are pumpers, though the 1964 Winston-Salem truck was a FWD/Baker/Pittman snorkel.

What’s missing from the list? Thomasville had a 1967 FWD/Snorkel. Others?

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Wake Forest New Brush 4

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The Wake Forest Fire Department has placed a new brush truck in service. Brush 4 is a 1984 Ford F-350 XLT with a C.W. Williams Wildfire skid unit. Placed in service at Station 4.

It joins four others in the fleet:

  • Station 1 – 2008 Ford F-550/Seagrave
  • Station 2 – 1977 Ford with skid unit 
  • Station 3 – 2005? Ford F-550/Seagrave 
  • Station 5 – 2005 Ford F-550/Reading?/? 

You can guess the unit numbers. 

See more photos from Lee Wilson.

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Updated – Renovations for Raleigh Fire Station 2

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June 22, 2017
Renovations are well underway. The interior has been gutted. New walls, windows, wiring, plumbing, HVAC, and fixtures are being installed. The adjoining “shop space,” the old repair shop, is being re-purposed as a drive-through apparatus bay and additional living space.

Work should be completed in November. 

Engine 2 relocated to their temporary quarters on November 30, and marked in service just after midnight on December 1, 2017. They’re housed at the old city sign, signals, and radio shop, at the corner of Blount and Wilmington Streets.

Construction started in December. See more photos. 

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November 26
Work is nearly complete on temporary quarters for Engine 2. They’ll relocate to the old city radio/signals/signs shop at the corner of Wilmington and City Farm. They’ll occupy a mobile home that’s been installed on the site. The engine will be housed in the shop’s single bay, and the haz-mat apparatus and equipment will be stored in the adjoining storage building. See more photos or click to enlarge:

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July 14
Construction bids are being received this week for renovations of Raleigh Fire Station 2 at 263 Pecan Road. The project is the second in a multi-year plan for “down to the walls” renovations of older fire stations not slated for replacement or relocation. Renovations to Station 5 at 300 Oberlin Road–first on the list–are currently underway, with Engine 5 temporarily housed at Station 6. (See blog post#1 and blog post #2.)

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Though similar in design to many of the city’s older engine houses, Station 2 is an atypical facility as it adjoins the former maintenance shop. The latter was relocated to 4120 New Bern Avenue in 2004, to a new Services Support Center built beside the city’s heavy equipment depot. The old shop space was re-purposed into an extension of the fire station, and presently houses Haz-Mat 2, the foam trailer, haz-mat supplies, and exercise equipment.

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Raleigh Fire Department 1984 Commemorative Book… Digitized

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Thirty-three years ago, the Raleigh Fire Department produced its first “yearbook.” The slim hardcover, with just under 100 pages, included a text history of the department, portraits of all members, action photos, historical photos, pictures of each fire station, and even a few candid shots. The project was self-funded, through advance orders and sponsorships. And it’s been long unavailable. 

This week, the Raleigh Fire Museum created a “digitized” version of the book. The pages were scanned and posted in this photo album:  http://raleighfiremuseum.org/photos/books/1984.

Note that the 1984 history text has been available in annotated format for some time. And here’s a page about all four of the department’s “yearbooks,” produced in 1984, 2002, 2007, and 2012.

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Was a Very Good Year

The year 1984 provides an excellent snapshot of “early growth” Raleigh Fire Department, and at a time when the organization was undergoing a transformation. The First Responder program was a few years old, and a haz-mat team had been created that year. These were the first steps into “all hazards” territory.

Fire Chief Thomas Kuster, the first Chief of Department hired from outside the city, had a mandate to tighten and “righten” the organization, operationally and otherwise. He was succeeded two years later by Sherman Pickard, another “outside chief.” And he continued that work. Some of those improvements included the Incident System Command and more formalized fireground procedures.

The city was still growing, with four more stations added from 1984 to 1989. Fleet improvements saw aerial apparatus added in 1986, 1988, and 1990, and the end of the service ladder companies. The departments two tankers, dating from 1960, were also taken out service, in 1986. Mini-pumpers were added in 1986 and 1987, as well as the first mobile air unit in 1988.

Other things that happened during the decade: the completion of the Keeter Training Center building in 1982, the creation of an Honor Guard in 1984, the formation of an Explorer Post in 1985, and the re-formation of the local IAFF chapter in 1986. To name a few.

It was a good decade.

By The Numbers – 1983/84/85

Calls
1983 – 6,304
1984 – 7,519
1985 – 8707

City population
1983 – 167,703
1984 – 183,908
1985 – 180,343

City Size
1983 – 61.84
1984 – 62.29
1985 – 78.815

Stations
1983 – 15
1984 – 15
1986 – 16

With three aerial companies, three service companies, two rescue units, and three district chiefs

Budget / Positions
FY83 – $6,224,977 – 316
FY84 – $7,133,372 – 328
FY85 – $7,589,706 – 346

 

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Two Alarms on Parkville Drive on Thursday

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Two alarms were struck on Parkville Drive in north Raleigh on Thursday morning. Engine 19 was first-due at 4830 Parkville Drive. They reported a heavy column of smoke visible, while en route. Headquarters upgraded to a working fire, prior to their arrival.

Engine 19 arrived at a two-story, wood-frame, multi-family residential building (townhouses) with about 7,500 square feet and six units. Heavy fire in the end unit on the first floor, extending to second floor. 

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Google Maps

The Engine 19 officer received reports of people possible trapped inside, and jumping from open windows. He requested a second alarm, and the engine and arriving Ladder 2 took a line inside, and began searching. Engine 21 brought the supply line to Engine 19. Battalion 5 arrived, and assumed command.

Firefighters were called out of the fire building, as conditions intensified. Defensive operations started using a portable monitor on the exterior of the building. Crews also took lines into the adjoining townhouse, to protect the attic and its firewall. 

The fire was soon contained, and controlled within 35 minutes of the first unit’s arrival. Extended salvage and overhaul brought two additional companies to the scene, special called for relief, due to the high outdoor temperatures. (High of 91 degrees that day, with 70 degree dew point.)

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WRAL image

Dispatched 11:13 a.m. Working fire dispatched ~11:15 a.m. Second alarm dispatched ~11:19 a.m. Controlled 11:53 a.m. First alarm: E19, E27, E21, E4, L2, L5, R1, B5, B2. Working fire: A2, C20, C401. Second alarm: E9, Sq7, E28, L1, L3, B3. Special called: E17, L7. Plus EMS units.

The townhouse was destroyed, and the firewall prevented the spread into the adjoining home. The second townhouse sustained water damaged. Six adults and two children were displaced. No injuries were reported. 

Read this WTVD story about the fire, which includes aerial and viewer video from Andy Glass. See also stories from WRAL and News and Observer[1].

[1] Link now broken, http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/wake-county/article156311219.html

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Tony Glass screen grab

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Vintage North Carolina Fire College Certificate

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For your Friday enjoyment, here’s a vintage certificate of completion from the North Carolina Fire College, awarded to Raleigh Fire Department firefighter J. B. Keeter, after completed the 1942 Lecture Course for Officers and Members. (Here’s a neat video from the 1967 college, we blogged about in 2011.)

Believe John B. “Jack” Keeter was a Captain by that time. He’d later be appointed Assistant Fire Chief, and then Fire Chief, where he served the longest of any Chief of Department in Raleigh’s history, from 1955 to 1973. See more biographical information.

This artifact comes courtesy of Raleigh Fire Department Captain Tim Pearce, and, sadly, who passed away last year. 

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