1903, town
incorporated. (March 6, 1903) tws
1908-1912 (?), fire department
organized. oh
1915, mayor's
office at corner of Fourth and Pine streets burns. Many city records destroyed. oh
1919, installation started of town
water system. tws
1920, Wendell Spinning
Company burns. Citizens are
awakened at 5 a.m. by fire alarms. Entire building, cotton
mill machinery, one residence, and 100 bales of cotton are
destroyed. Fire originates in boiler room from shavings and
quickly spreads to all parts of the plant. Night watchman
sounds alarm but rapidly spreading flames prevent the saving of
any buildings or machinery. Within fifteen minutes, the
entire top of the mill is burning. A lumber yard,
residences, and other manufacturing plants surrounding the mill
are burned, as one seven-room house on the east side. The
1909 cotton mill sustains $100,00 damage. Within two hours,
only part of the walls are still standing. The town water system
is still a few months from completion at the time of the fire.
(March 15, 1920) rt15mar20
1925, Sanborn fire insurance map
dated July 1925 summarizes fire department as "Volunteer. Not
motorized. One chief and one asst. chief. Not paid. 16 men. No
fire station or truck. Three hose houses. 500' 2 1/2" hose
each. Three 60' extension ladders. Gamewell fire alarm system.
Five boxes." Water supply includes "2 1/2 miles of
6" to 10" water pipe" and "28 hydrants."
Hose houses located
at:
Fire alarm boxes located at:
Business
district burns. Fire is discovered at 2:00 a.m. Third
of business district destroyed. Help is requested from
Zebulon and Raleigh. With assistance from fast-arriving
Raleigh crew, flames are brought under control by 3:45 a.m. Over $100,000 damage. Worst fire on record, at the time. (December
10, 1925) no11dec25
Livery stable
of J.P. Richard destroyed by fire. Six men were injured,
two "possibly seriously," when J.P. Richardson's livery
stable catches fire shortly before midnight. Four of the injured
are Wendell firefighters, struck by a brick wall that collapsed
"during the height of the fire." The Raleigh Fire
Department rushes to the scene, arrives "in time to be of
assistance," but finds that the Wendell firefighters appear
"appear to have the situation in hand." No livestock is
in the building at the time of the fire, and the estimated
property loss is $7,000. Wendell is located 17.54 miles from
Raleigh. Reference: "News & Observer," September 10,
1929. (September 9, 1929) no10sep29
1931, fire department budget is
$200. (August 6, 1931)tm
1932, Town Board reduces salaries
of Fire Chief to $7.00 per month and firefighters $0.75 per
practice, with no more than two practices per month. (January 14,
1932)tm
1932, fire department budget is
$200. (August 30, 1932)tm
1933, Town Board reads letter from
Gamewell suggesting Jno. Magnum of Raleigh be contacted to
"put the fire alarm system in shape." (May 4, 1933)tm
1933, Curtis Todd selected
Superintendent of the Fire Alarm System. Salary is $7.50 per
month. (July 6, 1933)tm
1933, fire department budget is
$400. (July 17, 1933)tm
1934, fire equipment (hoses?)
purchased from American LaFrance/Foamite for $760.00 less two
percent. (March 1, 1934)tm
1934, fire department budget is
$1000. (August 17, 1934)tm
1935, fire department budget is
$400. (August 1, 1935)tm
1936, Sanborn fire insurance map
update dated 1936 notes additional alarm and protective measures:
-
electric bell on water tank
(adjacent to 4th Street hose house)
-
fire resistive roofing
ordinance within fire limits only (as bordered by Howell
Avenue and Main Street to east, 2nd Street to south, Cypress
Avenue to west, and 4th Street to north)
1936, Town
Board instructs fire department to move fire station at Wall and
Wilson streets to suitable location, if available in
vicinity. (November 5, 1936)tm
1937, Town
Board instructs fire department to move "fire station near
school building" to suitable location. (February 4,
1937)tm
1938, Town Board instructs Mayor to
investigate "matter of insurance" for firefighters.
(February 3, 1938)tm
1938, Mayor reports to Town Board
that getting life insurance for firefighters is "not
permissible." (March 3, 1938)tm
1941, first
fire truck purchased: used Seagrave pumper with wooden
spoke wheels offered by Virginia Beach for $500 and
counter-offered and accepted for $350. The apparatus was likely a
1925 Seagrave Suburbanite triple-combination pumper, with a 350
GPM pump, Seagrave #41440. It was the first motor apparatus
delivered to Virginia Beach, and cost $6,850 new. Source: Virginia
Beach Fire Department - A Pictorial History, 1906-2006. (September 1941)tm, oh
1942, petition read at Town Board
meeting, asking for fire protection along eastern end of Wilson
Avenue and north end of Selma Street. (February 5, 1942)tm
1946, Fire Chief J. Malcom Todd
announces resignation to Town Board, agrees to remain in position
until next meeting, so adequate replacement can be found. (August
1, 1946)tm
1946, Dover Hinton elected Fire
Chief. Salary is $25.00 per month. (September 5, 1946)tm
1949, Town Board instructs
Board Member to check condition of pump on fire truck and
attend some of the drills. (November 11, 1949) tm
1950, Town Board appoints
committee to get prices on fire trucks
and an estimate on a new building to
house fire truck and other equipment. (May 4, 1950) tm
1951, C.E. Todd appointed Fire and Police
Commissioner. (August 2, 1951) tm
1951, Town Board hears committee report that
progress has been made determining minimum requirements to lower
fire insurance rates in town. Also, C.E. Todd discusses what
can be done to put fire truck in "first-class running
condition." (September 6, 1951)tm
1951, Town Board votes to
rent pick-up truck and to transfer hose from fire truck to
rented vehicle. (October 4, 1951) tm
1951, bids opened on fire
truck and representatives from various companies discuss merits of their equipment with Town Board. (November 1,
1951) tm
1951, Town Board
determines Howe the low bidder and appoints committee to
purchase a fire truck. (November 5, 1951) tm
1952, special election held to approve bond
issues including $8,000.00 for fire truck and $1,000.00 for fire
house. (November 29, 1951)tm
1952, Town Board votes to
purchase fire truck. (January 3, 1952)tm
1952, Town Board appoints
committee to make recommendation on location and size of building
to house fire truck. (February 7, 1952) tm
1952, Town Board accepts
recommendations of fire house building committee. (March 6,
1952) tm
1952, new
fire station completed on Fourth Street underneath water tower. (October
1952) no03oct52, oh
1952, Town Board instructs
member to inquire about delivery date of fire truck. (November
4, 1952) tm
1952, Town Board informed by Wendell Motor
Company that cost of fire truck has increased due to Ford Motor
Company's changing models at time truck was ordered and a 1952
model was delivered with more expensive cab and larger
tires. All amounts to over $400.00. Joe Henderson
requests $231.08 in addition to contract price and his company
will not charge for rental of pick-up truck Town had use. Town Board votes yes. (November 6, 1952)tm
1952,
apparatus delivery: 1952 Ford
pumper, purchased new. (November 1952) oh, no03oct52
1953, Town Board instructs member to remove and
reposition fire hose on fire truck once a month and to fasten side
door to hose, so it cannot be entered by small children. (January
8, 1953) tm
1953, Town Board votes to install additional
telephone in town office and designate one for police and fire
emergency calls and the other for business and all long-distance
calls. Also, a committee is appointed to study the
possibility of dividing the town into zones for fire alarm
notifications. (April 2, 1953)tm
1953, Town Board votes to employ a member of the
Raleigh Fire Department to meet with Town fire department and
instruct them if the Fire Chief and members desire additional
training. R. P. Baugh is instructed to present the
proposition to the fire department. (July 16, 1953)tm
1953, Fire Chief Dover Hinton requests
employment of a member of the Raleigh Fire Department to train
firefighters. Town Board passes resolution that, beginning
September 1, volunteer firemen receive $1.50 for each meeting
attended, $2.50 for each alarm answered, that the Town employ an
instructor for the fire department, and that the Fire Chief be
requested to make a report once each quarter. Also, a
committee is appointed to make recommendations or rules and
regulations for the fire department. (August 6, 1953)tm
1953, Town Board passes resolution permitting fire
department to answer calls outside of city and within two miles of
town office. Also, Fire Chief Dover Hinton
requests telephone extension installed in fire house. He is ordered to investigate service
availability and cost. Committee also named to recommend
regulating burning of trash, grass, etc. within town limits. (November
5, 1953) tm
1953, Town Board passes resolution
amending fire department by-laws allowing people who live outside
of town limits to be member. (December 3, 1953)tm
1954, Town Board passes ordinance
regulating burning of trash, grass, etc. within town limits. (March
4, 1954)tm
1954, Town Board appoints committee
to investigate dividing town into zones and operating siren on
system of codes to designate the zone that the alarm originated in.
(April 15, 1954)tm
1954, Town Board appoints members
to board of trustees of Wendell Fireman's Fund. H.P. Baugh
named Treasurer of fund. Board votes to purchase
continuing bond in amount of $1,600.00. (June 3, 1954)tm
1954, Town Board agrees to pay
Raleigh Fire Chief Jack Keeter $5 for each fire department meeting
he attended. (July 8, 1954)tm
1954, Town Board votes to carry
insurance on the fire department to cover hospitalization, medical
care, and some life insurance. Also, the Board votes to
purchase liability insurance on fire truck. Also, the Board
votes to purchase raincoats and helmets for members of the fire
department. (August 5, 1954)tm
1954, Town
Board appoints committee to purchase another fire truck, new or
used, by January 1, 1955. (September 13, 1954)tm
1955, Town Board orders members of
fire department who assisted in fighting fire at northern town
limits be paid. (April 7, 1955)tm
1955, Town Board, Mayor, and
Commissioners invited to attend ice cream supper at fire house on
Wednesday evening, June 15, 1955. (June 1, 1955)tm
1955, adopted budget for 1955-1956
contains $1,200.00 for fire department. (July 28, 1955)tm
1955, Town
Board appoints committee to make recommendations for a fire truck for
participation in county (rural?) firefighting program. (August 4,
1955)tm
1955, Town Board votes to purchase
200 feet of 2 1/2" fire hose. (September 4, 1955)tm
1955, Town
Board appoints committee to investigate cost of small fire truck.
(January 5, 1956)tm
1956, Colonel Hardee, Civil Defense
Director of Wake County, appears before Town Board and explains
operation of rural firefighting program and encourages Wendell to
participate. (March 1, 1956)tm
1956, Town
Board adds member to committee investigating purchase of fire
truck, as present members are not in agreement on the size
of the truck. Committee asked to make recommendations at
next meeting. (April 5, 1956)tm
1956, Town
Board votes to purchase fire truck of type recommended by
committee: a one-ton
truck with cab, V-8 engine, dual wheels, and at least 130 inch
wheel base. (May 3, 1956)tm
1956, Town Board votes to increase
size of fire department of 14 to 22 members. (December 4, 1956)tm
1957, three
children killed in house fire. Three-room tenant home burns
after children's parents taken four child to school. Blaze
is believed started at an oil stove connection. (January 17, 1957)
no18jan57
1957, rural fire department
formed. Wendell Rural Fire Company incorporated on March 4,
1957. Later renamed Wendell Holmes Rural Fire
Department. Stationed with Town department. First
rural fire truck is Ford pick-up equipped with front-mounted pump
and dual hose reels, among other equipment . (March 4, 1957) sos,
oh
1957, Town Board discusses
regulations governing operation of rural fire company. (March 5,
1957)tm
1957, Town
Board informed that Wendell Motor Company has painted Fire Truck
#2 without charge and
instructs manager to publicize this. (June 4, 1957) tm
1957, Town Board discusses the
number of members of the fire department that should answer fire
calls and instructs the Town Manager to get ideas from fire
department before official action is taken. Also, Town Board votes
to install police radio in police car, rural fire truck, and in
the Town office. (September 2, 1957)tm
1957, Town Board reads petition
signed by all firefighters and passes ordinance that fire
department be allowed to elect officers every two years beginning
December 1958. (October 7, 1957)tm
1958, Town Board presented with
account of fire department and passes resolution that
-
Town participates in county
fire alarm program, with the county installing same and paying
one fourth of the total cost and the federal government paying
two fourths of the total cost
-
Town purchases
"combination jackets"
-
Town purchases 500 feet of 1 1
/2" hose
-
Town purchases stationary,
envelopes, and two tarpaulins for fire department. (February
3, 1958)tm
1958, Town Board votes to order a
telephone for connecting with county fire alarm system. (June 2,
1958)tm
1958,
apparatus delivery: 800 gallon
tanker. Third piece of apparatus for fire department. (July
1958) glf17jul58
1958, fire alarm radio system
operational. When alarm is set off in Raleigh, siren sounds
for ten seconds, followed by ten seconds of silence, and repeating
until alarm is answered. (July 1958) glf17jul58
1958, Town Board passes resolution
accepting proposal of fire department that they serve as auxiliary
police officers when needed. Town Board also takes action on three
requests of fire department:
-
fire alarm be sounded for all
fires regardless of size or origin, deferred until November
meeting after Ralph Baugh meets with fire department to obtain
as much information as possible.
-
purchase two 25 foot sections
of 2 1/2" hose with female couplings on each end, one 1
1/2" fog nozzle, and one 4" by 2 1/2" Siamese
connection, approved.
-
construct
addition to fire house large enough to provide shelter
for water wagon and room for firefighters to hold meetings,
deferred. (October 6, 1958)tm
1958, fire
station addition completed. (fall/winter 1958)wcfam
1958, Fire Chief is Dover Hinton. wcfa
1959, Town Board appoints new fire
department officers:
Town Board also changes amount of
fee paid to Assistant Chief to $15.00 per month. (January 5, 1959)tm
1959, Town Board approves fire
department members using red town tags on personal vehicles. (October
5, 1959)tm
1960, Fire Chief is Clifton Couick.
(May 7, 1960) cfd
1960, Town Board votes to purchase
300 feet of 1 1 /2" hose and two 20-pound dry-chemical fire
extinguishers. (October 4, 1960)tm
1960, Town Board votes to participate with
federal government and county in purchase of stand-by power
equipment for fire alarm system. (November 2, 1960)tm
1960, Clifton Couick elected Fire Chief. Richard Perry elected Assistant Fire Chief. (December 5, 1960)tm
1961, special election held to approve $50,000
bond issue for municipal building. Polling conducted at
firehouse. (March 28, 1961)tm
1962, Fire Chief requests
"hook and ladder" for fire department. Town Board votes to purchase ladder and
necessary materials to assemble one. (February 8, 1962)tm
1962, Town Board accepts list of newly elected
fire department officers presented by Fire Chief Clifton Couick. The Board also votes to accepts no more applications from
non-residents of the Town for membership in fire department. The Board also insists the following checklist be created:
- check fire hydrants every six months
- check all hose once a year and after each big
fire
- check trucks once a week
- check all gasoline motors every quarter
- check all equipment on truck every quarter. (November
1, 1962)tm
1963, Town Board votes to purchase fire
equipment to meet requirements of county. (August 8, 1963)tm
1961-63, fire station is
moved, block by block, to Hollybrook Road at southwest corner
with Fourth Street, during construction of new
municipal building. oh
1963, fire station is moved into
new municipal building completed on corner of Pine and 4th
Streets. Contains facilities for municipal, fire,
rescue, police, and health departments and District Court. Fire
Department has three-truck garage and meeting room Both fire
departments share station. (September 1963) tws, no18aug63,
wcrer
1964, Town Board votes to purchase needed tires
for water wagon. (January 9, 1964)tm
1964, Town Board votes to purchase a 10
horsepower siren with remote controls and automatic time for
$1,575.00 and apply for matching federal funds available for same,
as noted in a letter read from Civil Defense Director Frank
Starnes. (July 2, 1964)tm
1964, Town Board votes to purchase 350 feet of
2" hose and 150 feet of 1 1/2" hose. (August 5, 1964)tm
1968, scout cabin on Selma Road
burns. Fire spotted about 11:30 p.m. Blaze
under control in 45 minutes. $4,000 damage. (Monday before
January 18, 1968) glf18jan68
1969, fire department receives new boots and
turnout gear. (April 1969) glf
1970, annual fire department barbeque held at
Wendell School lunchroom. (March 20, 1970) glf
1970, Town Board approves insurance for
firefighters. (Monday before August 6, 1970) glf
1974, apparatus delivery: 1974 Ford/Bean pumper, 750/750. Cost $26,500. Placed in service as Engine #1.
(April-May, 1974) glf02may74
1974, apparatus delivery:
1974 Ford F-750/Bean pumper-tanker, 450/1350. Cost $26,000. Placed in service as Engine #3 for Rural
Department. (October 1974) glf, wcfar
1974 (?), apparatus delivery: 1974 Ford/Darley pumper, 550/350,
front-mount pump. Placed in service as Engine #2 for Rural Department. Equipment and pump removed from previous Engine #2, a 1950s Ford
pick-up. oh, wcfar
1979, apparatus delivery: 1962 Diamond T/Craft Steel tanker, 350/1920. Former Army truck modified by Craft Steel
Industries of Farmville. Cost $11,800, paid largely by county fire
tax. Some citizens contributed donations. Placed in service in July
1979.glf-79aug02
Early 1970's, municipal and rural fire
departments begin operating as combined department. oh
1980,
warehouse on E. Wilson Road owned by Bill's Outlet burns. Volunteers
from six Wake and Johnston County fire departments assist Wendell
firefighters. The Tuesday night blaze is believed intentional and
a former employee is charged in the fire. The metal frame
warehouse is filled with kitchen cabinets. Total damages are
estimated at $150,000. The 6 p.m. fire is discovered by a passing
motorist. It is brought under control within two hours, though
firefighters remain on the scene well into the night to guard
against rekindling. Wendell Rescue Squad members treat several
firefighters for smoke inhalation and exhaustion. (May 20, 1980) glf29may80
1983, Eagle
Rock Grocery on State Road 1003 burns. Fire starts around
10:30 a.m. and does $10,000 to $15,000 damage. (January 13, 1983)
1984, new fire station
completed at 2960 Wendell Boulevard. [ Present street name and number. ] Both fire departments share station.
(October 1984) wcrer, glf25oct84
1986,
apparatus delivery: 1986 Ford/EEI pumper-tanker, 1250/1000. Cost $90,000. Placed in service as
Engine #113. (March 1993) glf
1988, second
fire station completed at 6529 Bethany Church Road. wcrer
Mid-1980's, municipal and rural
fire departments merge. Fire department signs fire
protection contract with Town. oh
1990 (?), hazardous materials unit
placed in service.oh
1991, Wendell
Rescue Squad building at 401 E. Third Street burns. Pot
left on stove is suspected as cause of fire that damages kitchen,
office, meeting room, front living quarters, and a storage area. (Friday
before December 1, 1991)
1999-2000, apparatus
purchase: 1980 Mack/1957
American LaFrance, 100-foot tractor-drawn aerial ladder.
Formerly owned by City of Raleigh, the apparatus was first
purchased at a surplus auction on April 24, 1999 by a speculative
buyer in Beaufort, N.C. The ladder truck is spotted three or
four months later sitting unsold in a lot and is subsequently sold
to the fire department for $5,000-$6,000. Another $6,600 is
spent on refurbishing the ladder, which is repaired in places and
finally tested by Underwriters Laboratories. The 1980 Mack
tractor has only 40,000 miles on it. Diamond-plate purchased
at an EEI auction in Raleigh is added to the trailer. Three
months pass before the apparatus is placed in service. The
fire department spends about $16,000 total on the truck. oh,
no
Part II - Additional Notes - 2016
2006 - Apparatus delivery:
2006 Pierce Dash
rear-mounted aerial ladder, 1500/300/75-foot. Ladder 116. Delivered
July 5. Replaces 1979 Mack/1958 American LaFrance, sold to Civietown
FD in Brunswick County.lw
2007 - Hazardous materials team discontinued, after
contract with Wake County expires at the end of the fiscal year on
June 30, 2007.
2008 - Apparatus deliveries:
2013 - Brian Staples named Fire Chief on August 1,
2013. Previously served as Interim Fire Chief beginning in April,
after retirement of longtime Fire Chief Tom Vaughn.
2013 - Apparatus delivery:
2013 International/KME
elliptical tanker, 500/2000. New Tanker 117. Delivered in May.
Placed in service around July.lw
2015 - Apparatus delivery:
2015 Pierce Impel
pumper-tanker, 1250/1000. New Engine 112. Delivered November 20,
2015.lw
See Wake County Fire Chiefs
(pdf).
See Wake
County apparatus register (pdf).
Raleigh Fire Museum photo albums.
Last updated: September 15, 2016
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