Last updated: October 16, 2026
Research notes by Mike Legeros
1930s
1934, October 10 - East wing of exhibition building burned in early morning fire. The Raleigh Fire Department responded to the scene. Two "co-leasees" of the exposition were slightly injured, one with cut and bruised hands as he assisted in removing exhibits, and another with bruised legs when he fell down stairs while fighting fire on the main building tower with a chemical extinguisher. As exhibitors were removing their displays from the main building, which was threatened by fire, looters also started stealing things. Police officers spent much of the morning recovering property from the scene. Three birds, caged along with other animals in a shed adjacent to the east wing, were killed. Two black "hog" bears were released after fire ignited straw in their cage, and had not been found the following day. Source: N&O, 10/11/34.
1940s
1946, October 15 - Eight concession booths burned, the morning before the first day of the Fair. The fire started shortly after 5 a.m. at a pitching game booth on the midway. It quickly spread and destroyed seven other concessions. Two workers received minor burns on their arms, after pulling over a concession stand to prevent it from burning. Fire Chief W. Ralph Butts told the News & Observer in an October 17 story that their department fought the fire from both the east and west sides, to prevent its spread. Fire engines were placed behind the Industrial Exhibition Building and on the west side of the midway. The alarm time was 5:06 a.m., as reported by telephone. Two lines and 1,110 feet of hose were used. The cause was not determined; the loss was estimated between $18,000 and $20,000. All evidence of the eight ruined concessions were quickly removed by workers, and officials with World of Mirth Shows said that they would be replaced by October 17, if possible. Sources: N&O 10/16/46, RT 10/16/46.
1947, October 11 - News & Observer reported "Fire Chief A. B. Lloyd said yesterday the Raleigh [Fire Department] this year would not be in position to furnish a truck for protection at the State Fairgrounds, but that his men would be ready to respond to calls there. The Chief yesterday visited the grounds and made a survey of equipment available there, including location of fire plugs and the amount of water which could be expected in an emergency. There is a deficiency of plugs, he said, but this cannot be remedied this year. A shortage of men and the fact that Raleigh’s auxiliary fire truck was demolished recently in a wreck will prevent a crew being assigned to the grounds, said the chief, as had been the custom in former years.
1950s
1958, October 10 - Flames sweep tin cattle barn. Western Boulevard Fire Department and Raleigh Fire Department responded. Workers preparing for the opening of State Fair assisted the firemen. Fueled by 1,500 bales of straw inside the building, the blaze took two hours to control.
1960s
1962, September 22 - Before fair week. Three rows of display booths burn inside the exhibition building. Worker at Red Star Oil Company discovered the blaze. The Fairgrounds Fire Department, and two Raleigh engine companies, brought the blaze under control in less than 20 minutes.
1963, October 18 - Elephant tent caught fire from a fireworks display. It was doused with a bucket water before it burned a hole "much bigger than a basketball." Fairgrounds VFD Asst. Chief Edwin T. Highsmith was nearby when it started. Both Fairgrounds and Raleigh fire departments responded, but the fire was out on their arrival. [N&O, 10/19/63]
1964, October 13 - Restaurant building destroyed during a busy night at the North Carolina State Fair. Thousands were attending the fair, and watched with rapt attention as the portable restaurant was consumed by flames. The $100,000 structure was a loss. Read blog post.
1965, September 29 - Before Fair week. Concession stands burned. The 4 a.m. fire alarm swept through a 315-foot stretch of stands. The public address system tower was also gutted. Damage to stands was about $25,000. Three units and 22 volunteer firefighters battled the blaze. Raleigh Fire Department also responded with five men and a pumper.
General
Locations:
| 1960s | Beside Jim Graham Building, at a little brick building located between the Jim Graham Building and Dorton Arena. |
| 1960s to early 1970s | By the maintenance building, and using an office trailer. |
| mid-1970s or later | By the Village of Yesteryear, and using an RV or mobile home. |
Apparatus:
Equipment:
Duties:
Incidents:
Schedule:
Personnel:
1965
Fire brigade established, with firefighters on the property during the operation of the State Fair. The impetus was a fire in September 1965, shortly before the opening of that year's fair. Reported the Tar Heel Firefighter in October 1981, reprinting a newspaper story from TBD source:
Daily fire inspections along with round-the-clock fire protection throughout the nine-day North Carolina State Fair are two of the reasons a major fire has not occurred at the State Fair since 1965.
It was after a tent fire in 1965 that officials of the State Fair and the Raleigh Fire Department made the decision to conduct continuous inspections on all 700 booths, exhibits, eating establishments, trailers, and other units at the fair. Also at that time, officials established 24-hour fire protection on the grounds of the fair.
“We have at least one pumping fire engine manned by trained fire personnel on the grounds to respond 24-hours a day to any fire emergency during the fair,” said Rufus Keith, chief of the Raleigh Fire Department.
Keith said two firemen, working jointly with the health department, labor department, and other regulatory agencies, conduct inspections to assure all units on the grounds have workable fire extinguishers. The firemen also alert vendors of possible fire hazards and remain on the scene until the hazards are corrected.
Four trained firemen are on duty from 8 a.m. until 11 p.m. each day and two firemen are on duty from 11 p.m. until 8 a.m. each day. In addition, the Raleigh Fire Department remains on alert throughout the fair to back up the fairground fire unit.
“We work closely with officials of the North Carolina State Fair to assure that our state fair is one of the safest in the nation,” said Keith. “We don’t want any more fires."
Another factor was the comparatively long response time from the nearby Fairgrounds Volunteer Fire Department. The State Fair Manager hired off-duty city firefighters. The brigade members utilized loaned apparatus, the first from the Garner Fire Department. Most of the later apparatus, over the years and decades, was provided by local or regional dealers.
1970s
By this time, the brigade was located by the Village of Yesteryear. Though they started using just one fire truck, they later expanded to two engines.
Fair was only a week long, and later expanded to ten/eleven days. Brigade members moved in during vendor set-up, typically a week before the fair opened. They stayed three or four days after the fair ended.
Two engines were used each year, typically new apparatus loaned by dealers. Pumpers or pumper/tankers. The apparatus also served as advertising for the dealers.
No structure fires are recalled as happening during those decades. Only brush fires from fireworks, vehicle fires, and other small fires. And numerous EMS calls.
1985
Apparatus:
Living quarters were a silver metal RV trailer. They also had at least one golf cart.
1986
Apparatus included a 1985 Kenworth / FMC Omega pumper-tanker.
1990s
By the 1990s, two golf carts were used in addition to the loaned fire apparatus.
1992 (?)
Apparatus included a 1992 Ford 8000 Cargo / E-One pumper/tanker, 1250/1000.
Living quarters were a mobile home.
1995
Apparatus included:
199_ Dodge / Stahl / Slagle mini-pumper, with a Slagle - Super Slide - skid unit. Demo unit from Slagle's Fire Equipment in South Boston, VA.
1994 Pierce Saber pumper/tanker, 1250/1000.
1998
Western Wake Fire-Rescue added for co-located protection including first responder EMS services. They were not contracted, but the State Fair agreed to pay for their added expenses of on-site operation. They have a formal contract by 2005.
About two years earlier, as plans were underway to create Western Wake FD, the department asked to bid on the contract for fair fire protection, and for about half the rate provided to the brigade.
The request was service-driven. The State Fairgrounds was already within the response area of Fairgrounds FD (and later Western Wake FD), and the department was already being compensated for protection of state property. Fair officials declined, but added Western Wake as an additional co-located service two years later.
2000s
People:
Schedule
Equipment:
Quarters:
Incidents
Fellowship:
2005
Final year of operation of fire brigade. Western Wake Fire-Rescue was formally co-contracted that year
Apparatus included a Ford mini-pumper, a demo unit from a dealer.
2006
First year of Western Wake Fire-Rescue as sole contracted service provider.
2007
Facilities were a mobile home and a catering tent.
2009
Facilities were an RV trailer, plus outdoor grill, fridge, and drink machine. Golf cart was also supplied.
2012
North Carolina Forest Service started fire patrols during nightly fireworks. This followed the NCFS joining the state department of agriculture that year.
2023
Facilities were a shipping container-as-office plus catering tent. Engine, brush truck, and two ATVs were among the equipment on site.
2024
Facilities were a shipping container-as-office plus catering tent. Engine, brush truck, and two ATVs were on site.
2026
Facilities were a shipping container-as-office plus catering tent. Engine, brush truck, and three ATVs were on site.
1920s
1928, Red Cross started providing volunteer service at the Stair Fair.
1940s
1941-1945, fair was suspended during World War II.
1950s (?)
Red Cross Lounge constructed.
1970s
1974, several volunteer ambulance services from around the state agreed to send personnel and vehicles to the fair, which was held October 18 through 26. They would provide emergency transportation and first-aid services if needed. Rescue squads in Cabarrus, Gaston, Halifax, Haywood, Nash, Pitt, Rockingham, and Wake counties agreed to participate, says Steve Acai, Transportation Consultant for the State Office of EMS. The volunteer service would be combined with a public display of the statewide EMS program. Source: North Carolina EMS News, Volume 1, Number 6, September 1974.
1976, and later. Memories:
1977, October 16 - Ride accident. Adult and two children received minor injuries after the roller coaster-type ride, the Tornado, came to a sudden stop. Two cars on the ride were approaching the unloading station when a support snapped that held up the ride's sprocket and chain. The operator witnessed what was happening and used the first of two braking systems to stop the cars. The sudden stop apparently threw the riders against the front rail of the ride. The adult received minor knee injuries and her five-year-old son complained of a stomach ache. Both were treated and released at Rex Hospital. An eleven-year-old girl received a minor bruise over her eye, and was treated at the scene by Red Cross workers. Two other adults in the cars were uninjured. After the accident, the ride was repaired and resumed operation. Source: N&O, 10/17/77.
1980s
1980 - For the sixth consecutive year, several volunteer rescue squads and ambulance providers from around the state provided emergency transportation coverage during the fair. The EMTs and their vehicles would be assigned to the Red Cross aid station. Nineteen rescue squads and providers were planned to participate, including:
Source: North Carolina EMS News, July/August 1980.
1990s
Early 1990s memories:
1991, October 26 - Shooting, about 11 p.m. One person was killed, second person was shot in hand. Related to a dispute between two rival gangs. Fair officials had been warned of same, due to tensions during the day, and gang activities at the gates.
1998, October 17 - Ride accident. Three cars collided on the Zyklon roller coaster. Wheel bearings seized on one car, and the two others struck from behind. One adult and two children are transported to Rex Hospital, with minor (?) injuries. Source: N&O, 10/18/98, https://web.archive.org/web/20040606072017/http://www.rideaccidents.com/1998.html#oct17
1998, by this time there were two ambulances on site each day. Both Wake County EMS and county rescue squads were participating. Two people per ambulance. They were based at the Red Cross Building, which was used as an emergency services building. Medical operated on the first floor. Law enforcement operated on the second. For all calls, EMS/rescue workers either walked to calls, or drove the ambulances. Red Cross oversaw all medical operations at the fair.
Late 1990s, memories:
2000s
2000s, notes:
By mid-/late-decade, EMS services included:
2001-2002, circa - Wake County EMS took over medical operations at the fair. The event had becoming busier and with more moving parts. They were initially housed in the Red Cross Building.
2002, October 24 - Fatal ride accident. Carnival worker killed after accidentally slipping into path of the Banzai ride's swinging pendulum cars. He was struck by the leg of a rider, knocked off the ride platform, thrown over the Starship 2002 ride, and landed about 30 feet away, striking the wall of a pizza concession. He was dead on arrival when medics arrived about 11 a.m. The rider whose leg struck the worker suffered a severely bruised leg. Source: N&O, 10/25/02
2003 - Red Cross Building was demolished. Beginning that year and for a few years after, EMS operated from a couple modular buildings at a nearby location.
2004 - Ride accident. Carnival worker injured while disassembling a ride, when a 15-foot high steel section of a ride fell on him. Source: N&O, 10/27/04
2004 - Midway expanded onto area of old racetrack.
2006 - Martin Building opened on the newly expanded Midway. Medical operations were located there.
2009 - Worker injured after falling fifteen feet, while dismantling a ride. Transported to WakeMed with back injury.
2013, October 24 - Ride accident. Five injured, including a ride operator, when a Vortex ride started moving as people were attempting to get off the ride. Reported at 9:16 p.m. Patients were between 14 to 39 years old. The operator of the ride was later charged in connection with the accident, with intentionally tampering with the ride's safety system.
2013, October 27, worker was hurt while disassembling the other Vortex ride. He was transported to WakeMed with a leg injury.
Sources
Copyright 2025 by Michael J. Legeros