They’ve indexed USAAF and USAF reports from 1918 to 1955, though with gaps in 1948-49, and 1952-55. Their database contains (by my count) 1,725 records where State = North Carolina. From those, fifty-one took place in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area. (That’s by eyeballing the results.)
They also sell copies of the reports, which can be ordered from their site. Might have look into that! (They’re also looking for volunteers, to read microfilm and enter data.) See the table below.
Notes:
After September 18, 1947, the Air Force split from the Army. Thus the records after that date are non-Army, and thus the January 2, 1953, crash of an Army transport plane in Morrisville isn’t listed.
Now that’s a great title for a conference talk, isn’t?
Saw the below statements in a Huffington Post piece on the subject of “universal basic income.” It imagines a visitor to our planet trying to make sense of how humans spend their time, and notably with regard to work, the pursuit of income, and advancements impacting both.
This excerpt contains an increasingly popular line of layman thought: if there are far fewer fires, why are there far more firefighters? And says Mr. Blogger, that might be the top marketing challenge in today’s fire service.
How would you answer this one? Either as written (which includes labor unions as a factor) or at any more generalized level?
Second question, does the fire service need more marketing these days, to better inform both the general public and more educated thinkers? What would be your approach? Please discuss!
The Salisbury Fire Department last year re-activated their historic Old Station 2 at 1402 S. Main Street. The 1942 engine house was renovated and restored by firefighters, after being vacated by the city s Landscaping and Parks and Recreation departments. Let s chat with Salisbury Fire Chief Bob Parnell about the building (now named Station 5), its restoration, and some other things.
Old Station 2 before the renovation – SFD photo
Q: Chief, when was the Main Street station vacated? A: The fire station was closed in 1980, when Station 2 was relocated to 2312 S. Main Street. The city was growing fast on the southwest side, and we needed a faster response time.
Q: What happened to old Station 2 A: It remained vacant for several years. Then the city’s Purchasing department thought about selling the property, and instead retained and renovated the building as a new office.
Q: Then Parks and Recreation moved in? A: Correct. Purchasing later left the building, and Landscaping and Parks and Recreation moved in.
Q: What did the fire department think of the building s reuse? A: We stayed interested in what was happening. This was a piece of our history, and we even entertain ideas about getting the building back, at some later point in time.
Q: Which happened in late 2014. A: Yes, in the fall of that year, the building was again vacated. We took over the structure and began renovations.
SFD photo
Q: Tell me about the work. A: Renovations took place between October 2014 and January 2015. Save for electrical and plumbing, firefighters did all the work. They removed walls and partitions added since 1980. They did painting and a significant amount of clean-up.
Q: Describe the interior of the structure, which is a one-story brick building with 2,280 square-feet on about a third-acre lot. What was the original layout? A: It originally contained a Captain s office, bunk room, day room, single bathroom with single shower head, a kitchenette that isn t big enough for a table, a storage room, and a double-wide apparatus bay measuring 24 by 70 feet.
Q: And a front porch! A: Which was enclosed in 1980 to add an office. There’s also a coal chute in the basement, which is original to the building.
SFD photos
Q: What s the current layout, post-renovation? A: We added two offices for our Training Officer and our Logistics Officer. They ve been relocated to what s now called Station 5. We re planning to move one our ladder companies there, but we have to add a sprinkler system to the building. We also have to raise the bay doors. They re currently ten feet high and we need twelve feet of clearance. We ll also have to modify the ceilings a bit as well.
Q: Why move a ladder there? A: The station s in a great central location, and it ll improve response times for that company.
Q: When will that happen? A: We re expecting funding for the sprinkler system and other components in the FY16-17 budget.
Q: What s the bay used for, right now? A: Squad 5 is there. That s our unstaffed rescue/haz-mat support vehicle, a 1985 Ford L8000/4Guys walk-in rescue. We also use the space for training, meetings, and other functions.
SFD photo
Q: Did you formally re-dedicate Station 5, when it opened in January 2015? A: We plan to re-dedicate when we move the ladder company to the quarters.
Q: What s the reaction been by the crews to the new old station? A: The fire guys and gals are very positive about it. They re taking good care of it, much like they would a national treasure.
Q: What can you tell me about the early history of Station 2? A: It opened on April 6, 1942, back when Salisbury Fire Department was a combination of career and volunteer members. We had two stations with American LaFrance pumpers, a 1941 ALF mid-mount aerial, and an older ALF city service truck that also carried hose. There was a Gamewell system and somewhere around 50 alarm boxes. We had a bell on the tower of Station 1, which was replaced in the 1940s by an electric horn.
[ Editor s note: The model years for those were 1924, 1930, and 1939 pumpers, and a 1924 service truck. They d add an ALF pumper in 1948, then a pair of Seagrave pumpers in 1954, and an International/Howe in 1956. They also had a Dodge rescue truck by 1950. ]
SFD photo
Q: There s a firefighter s memorial next door to Station 2. Tell me about that. A: The memorial was built in the same year as the station, in 1941. It was designed to commemorate the four fire departments in Rowan County at the time: Salisbury, Spencer, East Spencer and the now gone Spencer Shops Fire Department. The original marker still stands and lists those departments, one on each side.
Q: Then it was expanded to memorialize September 11, 2001? A: Yes. With additions completed by September 11, 2002. There a large Maltese cross of granite cobblestones with a 50-foot flag pole in the center. That honors the 343 fallen FDNY members on 9/11. Also added was a walk of honor around the original memorial, and a memorial wall that lists all the Rowan County departments in service in 2001. Listed there, beneath the department names, are the local fallen firefighters: four from Salisbury (Jenkins, Isler, Monroe and Cross) and one from Locke (Shue).
Q: Beside the memorial is the Firefighter s Cemetery. Tell me about that? A: It s located in the city s Chestnut Hills Cemetery, with plots reserved for firefighters and their family. Buried there include Fire Chief Charles Burkett (1937 to 1962), the City s first full-time paid fire chief, and other fire officers. Chief Burkett was well known around the state.
SFD photos
Q: Chestnut Hill rings a bell. There once was a fire company located there. A: That was an unincorporated community just south of downtown. They had a fire company that you told us about!
Q: They were named Southside and appear in tournament accounts of the North Carolina State Firemen s Association. They competed and won as early as 1907 and as late as 1912. The name Southside Reel Company was listed in the 1914 conference proceedings, and were listed with the Salisbury Fire Department in proceedings from 1915. From other NCSFA records, the Fire Chief and Assistant Chief in 1911 were G. C. Kluttz and J. G. Reeves, respectively. And in 1912, they had one company with fifteen men. A: And as you ve told me, they might ve merged with the Salisbury Fire Department, but we don t know for sure.
Thanks Chief!
Take a Video Tour
Last year, the Salisbury Post published a profile of the station project. Read that story, or watch this companion video:
[ Updated with more info. on the truck’s history. ]
From a reader, this former Bay Leaf midi pumper was found in Erwin, TN. Former Unicio FD Engine 3, 1979 Chevrolet C-70/Pierce, 400/400. E0155. (Thanks Micah, for the specs!)
Another reader (via our Facebook page) tells that the truck was bought by Fire Chief D. Rogers, a former BLFD firefighter and officer. This was their first-out rig for many years. (Thanks Michael!)
Here’s a blog archives posting from 2014 on the subject of midi pumpers, with pictures of rigs that served Wilmington and Greensboro.
Would you believe an Oshkosh M-23 (rare civilian version of the legendary P-15) as a tanker for a Tennessee resort community?
This story from the Times Free Press has been making the rounds. There’s a development called Jasper Highlights in Marion County, TN. The area was previously covered by the Foster Falls FD, but last summer, they voted to remove the property from the district. Reason? Too far from the fire station. Would take twenty-minutes for a fire truck to reach location. (The community comprises over 8,893 acres, or 13.9 square miles, with twenty-six homes completed or under construction.)
No problem, said owner/developer John “Thunder” Thomas. He’s acquired and equipped three fire engines for their community and organized fifteen volunteer firefighters (including himself). They’ve even ask the elementary schools in three counties to help name the trucks. Cash awards will be donated to the schools that received the most votes. (Cost of the trucks and equipment was $300,000.)
Above is the full fleet: a new/newish Freightliner pumper/tanker, an older Mack CF pumper, and an orange-over-gray Oshkosh P-15 crash truck. Wow! The latter is their tanker. (And marketing attraction.) Specs on that monster? Weighs 65 tons. Carries 6,100 gallons of water, plus 515 gallons of foam. Twin diesel engines, twin 1250 GPM pumps. Length 45 feet, width 10 feet, height 14 feet. (For a while, its military counterpart the P-15 was listed in the Guinness Book of World’s Records as the most powerful fire engine.)
The rig was most recently stationed in Fort Hood, TX. And how the heck did they transport the thing to a mountain community? Check your maps. Sits right alongside Interstate 24.
It’s airport week at Blog Central! Time for some time travel…
Raleigh-Durham International Airport has operated four Walter crash trucks in its day, the first being a 1959 Class 1500 that was acquired some time around 1970. Below is the closest we have to a posed photo of the thing. Click to enlarge:
News & Observer photo
About This Truck
Based on new research, this truck was acquired around 1970 or abouts. It wasn’t on the roster in 1970, and had disappeared from the roster by 1980. Yours Truly (cough, cough) had cited in his decade-ago timeline (lately updated) that the truck was delivered new. Wrong. Though there was a civilian version created around 1960, the turret configuration is different. This one’s an ex-military rig. Thanks MarkRedman, for that info.
Then what’s the story?
In 1969, the airport received a new International/Ansul dry-chemical rig. This raised the airport’s fire rating briefly, and then an Eastern DC-8 landed. Guess that was the largest jet to date, and they needed even more firefighting capabilities. The article said that ideas were being “kicked around” on how to raise the rating again.
By 1970, the airport master plan said that construction was underway of a 5,000 gallon, tractor-drawn foam generator. Was it ever built and/or delivered? Thinking not. Then a couple years later, a new 1973 Walter CB3000 crash was delivered. Where does the 1959 Walter fit into this?
Thinking that the 1959 truck was bought a bit before the 1973 truck. That would’ve immediately expanded their ARFF capacity until funds were available and construction was finished on the 1973 truck. (Hey, sounds good to me!)
The 1959 truck operated until 1977, when a second new Walter rig was delivered. (Thanks Dale Johnson, for digging through your memory banks on this one.) It was retired and (immediately? later?) moved to the Durham Museum of Life and Science, where it sat outdoors as an attraction. It’s pictured here in 1985, with our friend (and military/ARFF historian) Pete Brock in the front seat:
Pete Brock photo
Wider Shot
The above image appears in this News & Observer photo from 1976, cropped from a larger image also showing the airport’s 1973 Walter CB3000, and Fire Chief Terry Edmundson. See more historical photos.
News & Observer photo
About The Class 1500
Military fire historian Ted Heinbuch (who runs Fire Trucks at War and its accompanying Facebook group) has written an excellent capsule history of the Class 1500. Read that excellent document (PDF). The truck was developed by the Army Corps of Engineers beginning in 1954, to “meet the challenges associated with new types of weapons, missile installations, and the increased use of aircraft at Army airfields.” Production started in 1959.
The 4×4 truck was powered by an eight-cylinder, 300 HP gas engine. The 1500 GPM two-stage pump powered a roof turret, two one-inch booster lines, and discharges for the 1000 feet of 2 1/2-inch hose and 100 feet of 1 3/4-inch hose it carried. Aboard were 950 gallons of water and 250 gallons of foam. Other features included a 20,000 pound winch. There were a total of 136 trucks produced for the Army.
Here are some walk-around photos of a Class 1500 that served Minneapolis, MN, taken by Yours Truly some years ago at an air museum in Anoka, MN.
Mike Legeros photo
And a Trailer!
Heinbuch also includes information about the Sabre Fire Fighting Trailer, designed to be towed behind the Class 1500. It carried 2,000 gallons of water in a baffled tank, and was equipped with a 1500 GPM electric water pump. There was also a gas-fired heating unit for cold climates, that circulated warm water and air. The trailer road on flotation-type military tires, as did the crash truck. Eight of these were produced.
How cool is this thing?
Ted Heinbuch photo, via Fire Trucks at War on Facebook
The Raleigh Fire Department has started producing short informational videos, in the style of the long-running (and now discontinued) FireWatch television series, which was broadcast on the local cable channel RTN. This clip is about the rebuilding of Fire Station 6. See this playlist for all videos to date.
March 20, 2016
What do the pages of the painter’s log look like? Here’s an example:
And here’s a page that mentions Tarboro, North Carolina. Page 119, from 1933. The notation says something like “April 18th, Mr. Wolfe J. Fleming and C. Babcock went to Tarboro, N.C., came back April 29th, 1933.” Why did they travel? Was their trip related to the rigs on that page, or the earlier Tarboro rig? No idea.
March 18
Here’s a list of Seagrave apparatus deliveries in North Carolina, as transcribed from a copy of the Seagrave Master Painter’s Record, which recorded all trucks painted at their plant in Columbus, OH, from May 1906 to September 1940, plus four entries from September 1942, and from September 1943 to December 1951. (There were gaps during World War II.)
It constitutes the only known record of Seagrave serial numbers, which were job numbers used for its own internal manufacturing and cost record system. (And when apparatus was returned for repairs or repainting, the notes note, the apparatus received a new serial number.)
How complete is this list? First, we’re hoping for zero transcription errors. Did multiple passes, so crossing fingers there. What about deliveries not record in the painters log? Such as rigs produced for our state during World War II. We’ll see if readers have information about other trucks, or supplementary information worth noting.
Also, the first entry in the book in Gastonia’s wagon. Two-horse wagon. How many of these are horse-drawn rigs? Guessing the first couple, tops. Thirty-two rigs are listed. That’s far fewer than American LaFrance delivered during the same period. ALF was the predominant builder of motor fire engines in our state, during that time. Somewhere over 350 rigs.
Wake County Fire Services has implemented a new organizational chart, with two new Deputy Director positions reporting to the Fire Service Director, a new Logistics Manager position, and a couple other changes. Let s chat with Fire Services Director Nick Campasano for a closer look.
The new structure was originally conceived by [prior Fire Services Director] Mike Wright, notes Campasano. It was designed to provide additional support for both the Fire Tax District and the county fire departments. Wright retired in 2014, as readers recall, and here s a great blog post about him and his career.
Above is the new organizational structure. Notable changes include:
Repurposing the Director s two direct reports Chief of Training and Chief Fire Marshal as deputy directors, and with the functions of Chief of Operations and Fire Prevention/Response.
The Chief of Operations still oversees training (and suppression and now logistics functions), but has additional duties including as liaison with the county fire departments, and supporting the OSFM rating reviews.
Under Chief of Operations, a third functional area added. Operations (with a Logistics Manager position) joins the functions of Training and Suppression.
The Logistics Manager oversees the apparatus purchases, inventory control, and other capital purchases, such as PPE, SCBA, and thermal imaging cameras. They are also responsible for developing the replacement schedules and apparatus maintenance programs.
Under Fire Prevention/Response, one supervisor position removed under the functional area of Inspections. The inspectors now report directly to the Deputy Director.
The transition to the new configuration has been a gradual one, notes the Director. We hired Grant Vick as the Logistics Manager and Darrell Alford as the Operation Chief, back in the fall, says Campasano.
He adds that the Fire Training Chief position went away in December, when Ricky Dorsey retired. We are currently in the process of hiring a Fire Training Manager, so the reorg is still a work in progress.
Are future changes planned?
Says Campasano, At this time, there are no future changes contemplated. As the current organizational layout is very new, we would need some time to determine how it is working and what future tweaks it may need.
Other Details
Looking closely at the chart, here are a couple other things:
The Rolesville Firefighter is the last of the county-paid firefighters. They re assigned to the Rolesville Fire Department and work full-time on a 24-hour schedule. Believe there were other funded firefighters in the past, with members who retired or left. Maybe readers can advise.
The Emergency Response personnel are position that staff WC1. That s the emergency response unit that provides 24/7 support for fire departments in Wake County (both county-funded and otherwise), for functions of fire investigation, logistical support, etc.
The Business Office is a department under Wake County EMS, but provides business related support to Fire Services. They handle contracts, payroll, invoicing, etc.
Comparing Old and New
The old org chart consisted of:
Fire Services Director
Chief of Fire Training
Training Program
Training Specialists (x3)
Fire Suppression Program
Firefighter-Driver (for Rolesville FD)
Chief Fire Marshal
Fire Prevention/Inspection Program
Inspector (as supervisor)
Inspector (x5)
Emergency Response Program
Fire Rescue Responder (x3)
The new org chart consists of:
Fire Services Director
Deputy Director – Chief of Operations
Training (function)
Training Manager
Training Specialist (x2)
Pool of part-time resources
Operations (function)
Operations Manager
Suppression (function)
Firefighter (for Rolesville FD)
Deputy Director – Fire Prevention/Response
Inspections (function)
DFM Inspector (x6)
Emergency Response (function)
Emergency Responder (x3)
Scope of Division
Wake County Fire Services has the mission of fire code enforcement, emergency response, fire investigations, [fire response] planning, fire training, and readiness for emergencies. They accomplish same in five program areas, reflected in the above org chart: Fire Services Administration, Fire Code Enforcement/Fire Prevention, Fire Services Training, Emergency Response, and Fire Suppression Operations and Support. They have seventeen full-time positions, and a budget in FY2016 of $1.669,732.
The division also works closely with nineteen fire departments in Wake County that provide service in the Fire Tax District. Thirteen departments are non-profit corporations, and six are municipal fire departments. The Fire Tax District includes most of the unincorporated areas of the county, along with the town of Wendell. These departments use a combination of full-time staff, part-time staff, and partially compensated volunteers. What’s the total count of personnel or units or stations, and/or area or population served? Maybe one of our readers will crunch those numbers.
Wake County has twenty-three fire departments total. The four not contracted by the county are Holly Springs, Knightdale, Raleigh, Raleigh-Durham International Airport. The North Carolina Forest Service also has a base in Wake County, and provides fire suppression services and support. Wake County Fire Services also provides support to these agencies as well.
Historical Perspective
Here s a blog post and accompanying research document (PDF) with a historical perspective on the Fire Services division. Some highlights:
In 1953, the first rural fire departments were formed. Subsequent departments are organized to provide protection to people living outside of municipalities. Funding includes some support from the county.
In 1954, first full-time Civil Defense director position was created. Later renamed Director of Civil Preparedness, then Emergency Preparedness, then Emergency Management. The office also provides support to the county fire departments.
Between the 1950s and the 1980s, the Fire Marshal was created as role of the Director. When did this exactly happen? To be determined!
By 1986, the Fire Marshal position is a function of the Director of Emergency Management, who was also EMS Director until 1980.
In 1986, a full-time Fire Marshal position was created.
In 1987 (on July 1), the division had four full-time positions, including two fire inspectors. When were the first county fire inspectors hired? To be determined!
In 1988, a fire trainer position was created. This followed completion of the Wake County Fire Training Center in 1985.
In 1989 (on July 1), the division had seven full-time positions. Three were added in January 1989.
In 1990 (on July 1), the division was expanded to eight full-time positions.
In 1992 (on July 1), the division had 11.5 positions.
In 1994, Fire Marshal s Office was restructured, after a study of county fire protection recommended these actions: Hire a county fire administrator, who leads office with three divisions: Fire Marshal. Support Services, and Human Resources. Create two additional fire inspectors/investigators ASAP. More clearly define FM role and authority in area of emergency response.
In 1995, the position was renamed Fire/Rescue Director.
In 1998, the Wake County Fire Commission was formed, as an advisory board to both the Fire/Rescue division and County Commissioners. That function was previously served by the Wake County Fire Chief s Council, which had operated since 1963.
In 1999, a single fire protection service tax district was created. Previously, county fire protection as financed through twenty-one separate fire tax districts.
By 2011, the position was renamed Fire Services Director.
During the 2000s and 2010s, the Fire Service Division has waxed and waned between 17 and 22 full-time positions. (During some of that time, Emergency Management was part of the division and included in that count.)
The next meeting of the Wake County Fire Commission is Thursday, March 17, at the Wake County EMS Training Facility, in the lower level of the Commons Building at 4011 Carya Drive in Raleigh. The meeting starts at 7:00 p.m.
Adoption of Minutes for January 21, 2016 Regular Meeting
Adoption of Minutes for March 3, 2016 Special Called Meeting / Work Session
Regular Agenda
Approval of the FY 2016 Fire Services & Fire Commission Labor Market Study and Wake County Fire Services Compression Study Data
Approval of the revised Wake County Fire Compensation Administrative Guidelines
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
Operations Director Report
Logistics Manager Report
Other Business
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.
