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Two alarms were struck at the Raleigh Convention Center at 500 S. Salisbury Street on Monday night, December 1, 2025. Dispatched at ~9:29 p.m., the first-arriving units were from nearby Station 1 on South Dawson Street. Ladder 1 was first-arriving, reporting a working fire, and requesting a second alarm. Narrative notes are below. 

Run Card

• First Alarm – E13 E1 E3 E2 L1 L6 R16 B2 B3 ISO14
• Added – E5
• Working Fire – A10 DC1 INV1 B5
• Second Alarm – E6 E8 L14 L15 Sq7 Rehab 12
• Added A28, Chief Investigator, Asst. Chief Logistics, E16 (relief)
• EMS – M25 M71 M73 M78 M909 EMS83 D3 D7
• WC1

Narrative Notes 

From radio traffic and other reports:

• Dispatched ~9:29 p.m. for 500 S. Salisbury Street, Raleigh Convention Center. Block-sized building with ~500K square-feet.
• Headquarters to Battalion 2, we are receiving multiple callers.
• “You can upgrade it.”
• Ladder 1 reporting a header from South Dawson Street.
• Ladder 1 first-arriving. Working fire. Heavy fire on roof.
• Immediately requested a second alarm.
   
• Ladder 1 reported “entire roof division on fire.”
• Engine 1 connected to FDC, crews went inside to start standpipe connections.
• Ladder 1 set-up on McDowell Street (with reserve, rear-mount), made initial fire attack.
   
• Request for police to establish additional one-block perimeter around building.
• Fire was running the entire length of the roof.
• Light smoke in building, no fire through the roof.
• Fire reportedly gas-fed.
   
• Battalion 2 with command.
• Command post at corner of Cabarrus and McDowell.
• Second alarm staging in parking lot opposite Poole’s diner, on McDowell at Cabarrus.
   
• Two ladders raised, Ladder 1 (on reserve) and Ladder 14 from McDowell Street side. (But only Ladder 1 flowing, correct?)
   
• EMS with four transport units staged at nearby EMS main station.
   
• Majority of fire knocked down in ~25 minutes.
• Control time 10:29 p.m.
   
• Building was occupied by about a dozen security and staff members.
• No events were taking place at the time of the fire.
• No injuries were reported.

Hydrants

• Lenoir Street, mid-block – Engine 1 to FDC
• McDowell Street, mid-block – Ladder 1 (on reserve)
• Salisbury Street at Cabarrus – Connected but not charged?

Photo Credits

Left, screengrab from video posted by Raleigh Downtown on Facebook. 

Middle, street level from Raleigh Professional Fire Fighters Association posting on Facebook. 

Top right, aerial view from Raleigh Downtown on Facebook. 

Bottom right, street level from Legeros. See more photos.