Here’s a new “armchair update” on what’s news and new at the various fire departments around Wake County. Thanks to the various fire chiefs that shared their information. 

Apex

• New Station 6 nearing completion, 1206 Wimberly Road. Expected to open in late March or early April. See drawings in this blog post. 
• New E-One Typhoon pumper on order, for the station. Expected around June, delayed due to build delays.
• Academy 3 graduates April 21, with 12 firefighters to help staff the new station and new Engine 6.
• Second battalion and three battalion chiefs will be added, when Station 6 opens.
• New Spartan Gladiator/Smeal aerial platform also on order, 2000/400/100-foot.
• Preparing to spec new replacement engine for next budget year.
• Currently advertising for third assistant chief, new position. Assistant Chief of Professional Standards and Accreditation.

Cary

• Four Pierce Enforcer pumpers on order, 1500/500.
• Station 4 renovation plans are nearing completion and will be bid soon. The project will completely remodel the 1988 facility at 1401 Old Apex Road. Everything will be new within the existing footprint, plus some modifications to interior walls. Plus a 1,500 square-foot addition, for a fitness room. The station will be closed during the project and crews moved to a modular unit.

Durham Highway

• New tanker in production, Freightliner/Pierce dry-side, 2100 gallons.
• New Engine 1 delivered last month, 2022 Pierce Impel, sister truck to Northern Wake’s new engine.

Fairview

• Pierce Impel pumper on order, 1500/1000.

Fuquay-Varina

• New Station 4 under construction, 4821 Wade Nash Road. Co-located EMS facility. With 8,000 square-feet, three bays, and a 6.20-acre site. See drawings in this blog post. 

Garner

• New Station 5 under construction, 7816 Caddy Road. Co-located EMS and police facility. With 16,816 square-feet, four bays, and a 5.19-acre site. See drawings in this blog post. 
• Community meetings were held this month, for public feedback on prospective merger of the private department with the town of Garner.

Holly Springs

• New Station 3 in design process, Woods Creek Road and Cinder Station Road, previously named Woods Field Dead End Road. With ~15,000 square-feet and three bays. Construction expected to start this summer. See drawings in this blog post. 
• Contract for new E-One mid-mount platform was just signed.
• All three shifts undergoing intensive confined space rescue training.

Hopkins

• Ordered new Paratech strut kit with hydro fusions to outfit their rescue truck.
• Ordered e-ram to complete the complement of e-hydraulic rescue tools on Engine 221. 

Knightdale

• New Station 1 in design phase, Forestville and Old Knight Road, northwest corner, 3.64-acre site. Final renderings awaiting council approval. Co-located EMS facility. When completed, the four-bay facility will open as Station 1. Then, current Station 1 (Hester Street) will be renumbered as Station 2. Next, current Station 2 (Steeple Square) will be vacated and undergo a multi-million dollar remodel, converting the facility into a fire and police administrative building.
• Station 3 (Clifton Road) will be receiving a complete interior remodel, to improve living accommodations and the health and safety of the crews.
• New Station 4 under construction, 1325 Hodge Road. With ~12,500 square-feet, three-bays, and a four-acre site. See drawings in this blog post. 
• New tanker in production, Freightliner/Pierce dry-side, 2000 gallons
• Two Pierce Enforcer engines on order, due in the fall.
• KFD is currently designing a second heavy-duty aerial ladder and a new rescue engines, with hopes to order in the spring.

Morrisville

• New Station 3 under construction, 1021 Harris Mill Road. With three bays on a shared 6.3 acre site. See drawings in this blog post.

New Hope

• Old Station 1 was sold on October 27, 2022, for $1.4M. Was owned by their non-profit corporation.
• Planning underway for expansion of former Station 2, now Station 1, on Watkins Road. Sleeping areas will be expanded, to accommodate the full-time crew from old Station 1, who were relocated in July. Additional renovations will be performed to those sections of the station that date to its original construction, in the late 1980s. Construction is expected to start in early spring.

Northern Wake

• New 2022 Pierce Impel pumper, 1500/1000, delivered.
• New 2022 Freightliner/Pierce dry-side tanker delivered late last year, 750/2000.
• New Ford F-150 light truck purchased, Utility 20.
• John Deere Gator with skid unit on order.
• County has land search underway, for new station in the northern hook area.

Raleigh

• New Station 3 design process about done, should be shared soon with the public.
• Three engines being inspected this month, 2022 Pierce Enforcers, 1500/500. New E8, E22, E26.
• New Pierce Enforcer Ascendant mid-mount going into production this year.
• More apparatus on order: four Pierce Enforcer Engines, 1500/500 + second Pierce Enforcer Ascendant mid-mount + Freightliner/Pierce air truck.
• Academy 50 and Academy 51,  combo of long and short, start at the end of March.

RDU Airport

• Oshkosh 6×6 Striker 3000 on order, new CFR 2, expected early February. It’ll be another mean green machine, 3000 gallons, to replace the white 2000 Oshkosh 4×4 T-1500, 2000 gallons. The last of the ghosts will be going out to pasture.

Rolesville

• Discussions ongoing with town, to merge/unify the private fire department with the Town of Rolesville effective July 1, 2024.

Swift Creek

• No updates to report.

Wake Forest

• New Engine 2 finishing production at Rosenbauer, their third engine from them.
• E-One Typhoon mid-mount platform, 95-foot on order. Expected delivery around July 2024. (And a straight-stick, no pump? Looks like that from drawings.)
• Engine 8, old Raleigh engine, is undergoing a full refurb. Will return in reserve status to supplement the fleet.
• Replacement Battalion 1 vehicle arriving and to be placed in service in the coming weeks.
• Construction of an equipment warehouse should be starting soon beside Station 3.
• Station 6 in the planning phases, will reside on the east side of the city and is prospected to have a full training facility on its grounds.

Wendell

• Pierce Impel pumper on order, 1500/1000.
• Replacement brush truck for Station 2 forthcoming.
• Battalion 11 was placed in service at Station 3, late last year.

Western Wake

• No updates to report.

Zebulon

• Preliminary design completed for new (relocated) fire/EMS station on Judd Street. Community meetings scheduled for January 26, to introduce project and receive feedback on design of the five-bay, 25,000 square-foot facility. Second community meeting planned for late February, to incorporate feedback and share elevations.