Last updated: November 22, 2019
1930s
1934, October 10 - East wing of exhibition building burns in early morning fire. Firefighter respond 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 burn, the morning before the first day of the Fair. The fire starts shortly after 5 a.m. at a pitching game booth on the midway. It quickly spreads and destroys seven other concessions. Two workers receive 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 they 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. Fire department records recorded the alarm time as 5:06 a.m., as reported by telephone. Two lines and 1,110 feet of hose were used. The cause of the fire 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.
1950s
1958, October 10 � Flames sweep tin cattle barn. Western Boulevard Fire Department and Raleigh Fire Department respond. Workers preparing for the opening of State Fair assist the firemen Fueled by 1,500 bales of straw inside the building, the blaze takes 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 discover the blaze. The Fairgrounds Fire Department, and two Raleigh engine companies, bring the blaze under control in less than 20 minutes.
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 �portable� restaurant was consumed by flames. The $100,000 structure was a loss. Read blog post.
1965, September 29 � Before Fair week. Concession stands burn. The 4 a.m. fire alarm sweeps through 315-stretch of stands. The public address system tower is also gutted. Damage to stands is about $25,000. Three units and 22 volunteer firefighters battle blaze. Raleigh Fire Department also responds 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 a office trailer. |
| mid-1970s or later | By the Village of Yesteryear, and using an RV or mobile home. |
Apparatus:
Equipment:
Duties:
Incidents:
Schedule:
Personnel:
Mid-1960s
Fire brigade established, with firefighters on the property during the operation of the State Fair. The impetus is a fire during the State Fair, and the comparatively long response time by the nearby Fairgrounds Fire Department. The fire is likely the portable restaurant that burned in October 1964, and/or the concession stand that burned in September 1965.
Fair Manager hires off-duty city firefighters. They utilize loaned apparatus, the first from Garner Fire Department. Most of the later apparatus, over the years and decades, is provided by local or regional dealers.
1970s
By this time, the brigade is located by the Village of Yesteryear. Though they started using just one fire truck, they expand to two engines.
Fair was only a week long, and later expanded to ten/eleven days. 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. This was also advertising for the dealers.
No structure fires are recalled during these decades. Brush fires from fireworks, vehicle fires, and other small fires. Numerous EMS calls.
1985
Apparatus:
Living quarters were a silver metal RV trailer. Also had at least one golf cart.
1986
Apparatus included 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 1992 Ford 8000 Cargo/E-One pumper/tanker, 1250/1000.
Living quarters were a mobile-home.
1995
Apparatus includes:
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 are not contracted, but the State Fair agrees 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 formally co-contracted by this time.
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 are a mobile home, and a "catering tent."
1920s
1928, Red Cross begins providing volunteer service at the Stair Fair.
1940s
1941-1945, fair is suspended during World War II.
1950s (?)
Red Cross Lounge constructed.
1970s
1974, several volunteer ambulance services from around the state agree to send personnel and vehicles to the Fair, held October 18 through 26, to provide emergency transportation and first-aid services if needed. Rescue squads in Cabarrus, Gaston, Halifax, Haywood, Nash, Pitt, Rockingham, and Wake counties agree to participate, says Steve Acai, Transportation Consultant for the state Office of EMS. The volunteer service will 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 receive minor injuries after the roller coaster-type ride the Tornado comes to a sudden stop. Two cars on the ride were approaching the unloading station when a support snapped that holds 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, her five-year-old son complained of a stomach ache, and 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 provide emergency transportation coverage during the fair. The EMTs and their vehicles will be assigned to the Red Cross aid station. Nineteen rescue squads and providers are 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 killed, second person shot in hand. Related to 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 collide 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, http://www.rideaccidents.com/1998.html#oct17,
1998, by this time there are two ambulances on site each day. Both Wake County EMS and county rescue squads are participating. Two people per ambulance. They're 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, features added included:
c.2001-2002, Wake County EMS takes over medical operation at State Fair. It's becoming busier, more moving parts, needs a command presence, etc. They were in the brick building for one or two years, after taking over, and before the building was demolished.
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 who's leg struck the worker suffered a severely bruised leg. Source: N&O, 10/25/02
2003 - Red Cross Building is demolished. That year / for a couple years around that time, medical operates from a couple mobile classroom buildings nearby.
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 expands onto area of old racetrack.
2006 - Martin Building opens on new Midway. Medical operations are 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 ages from 14 to 39 years old. The operator of the ride was later charged in connection with the accident, with intentionally tempering with the ride's safety system. Also, on October 27, a worker was hurt while disassembling the other Vortex ride. He was transported to WakeMed with a leg injury.
Sources