Here’s the front page of the Duplin Times from January 5, 1950, which includes a story on the death of Warsaw Fire Dept Fire Chief Stacy H. Britt, 38, who died in the line of duty in an apparatus collision on December 31, 1949.

You can read the entire issue at this digital North Carolina newspapers page. Just click through to the correct issue.

Chief Britt is one of two NC firefighters remembered by the North Carolina Fallen Firefighters Foundation on their Facebook page today.

Also on December 31, in 1969, Greensboro Fire Department Firefighter Jesse C. Gray died in the line of duty.

Alas, no free digital archives are available (that Legeros can find) for the Greensboro News & Record. But their archives are available, with paid access.