Research notes on the oldest rescue squads in North Carolina. Compiled in September 2022 in this Facebook posting. Source data in this Google spreadsheet copied from Excel master file. Name County Status Start Stop Winston-Salem Rescue Squad, Inc. Alamance former 1937 2014 Davidson County Rescue Squad, Inc. Alamance active 1941 —— Elkin Emergency Rescue Squad, Inc. Alamance active 1941 —— Beaufort Rescue Squad (v1) Alexander former 1942 TBD Gaston Life Saving and First Aid Crew Alexander former 1948 2021 ADR [?] Rescue Squad Alleghany former 1950 1963? Red Cross Rescue Squad A ..read more

On March 29, 2024, Lexington Fire Department Captain Ronnie B. Metcalf, 54, died after being injured during an interior fire attack at a house fire on March 26. What’s the historical perspective of other firefighters in North Carolina, who were killed during or from injuries sustained during interior operations? That list includes the following: Theodore W. Stoner7/21/1925 High Point Captain Stoner died of burn injuries received while fighting a fire at Pickett Cotton Mill on the night of July 17, 1925. Stone had led several firefighters into a pit to extinguish a small fire in a bale of cott ..read more

The Wake County Fire Commission meets again on Thursday, April 11, 2024, at 6:00 p.m., at the Wake County Emergency Services Education Center, 221 S. Rogers Lane, Raleigh, NC 27610. View agenda and meeting documents. Share 0 Share 0 Share 0 ..read more

For truck fans and list lovers, reader Nicholas Jones has created and compiled a list of all fire apparatus serving in Wake County, NC.  The document includes department and even company patches, vehicle photos with credits, and specs for most of the rigs.  Read the document (PDF). Share 0 Share 0 Share 0 ..read more

On Saturday, May 11, 2023, the following names will be added to the North Carolina Fallen Firefighters Memorial at the annual ceremony in downtown Raleigh. See below for narratives and notes, about each member and how they died.   Ricky Dale Allen – Conover – 2023 Minton Beach, III – Oak City – 2023 Dewayne Fender – Asheville – 2022 James William Goudelock – Dallas – 2022 Scott W. Hinson – Concord – 2021 David Scott Holmes – LaGrange – 2022 Jeremy Michael Klemm – Durham – 2021 David S. Merritt – Durham/White Cross – 2021 J. Sorrell Thomas – Concord – 2021 Source: ncfff.org/memoria ..read more

Research notes. Last updated March 17, 2024.  Former fire stations. Left to right, top to bottom: Manteo, Nags Head, Kitty Hawk, Hitty Hawk, Southern Shores (demolished), Southern Shores (demolished), Avon (TBD), Buxton, Salvo (Demolished). Dare County Fire Departments – Past and Present List Avon Buxton Chicamacomico Banks Colington Dare Beaches Sanitary District Duck Frisco Hatteras Kill Devil Hills Kitty Hawk Manns Harbor Manteo Nags Head National Parks Service Naval Auxiliary Air Station Manteo Naval Facility Cape Hatteras (Buxton) Roanoke Island Rodanthe-Waves / Rodanthe-Waves-Salvo ..read more

See photos by Legeros | Listen to radio traffic Two alarms were struck on March 13, 2024, at a residential structure fire in the 2100 block of Karns Place in very north Raleigh. Dispatched 3:02 a.m., and upgraded to a working while units were en route, due to callers reporting that the entire structure was involved, and fire had spread to the house next door.  Wake Forest Engine 5, auto aid, was first-arriving, with two houses on fire, and the primary fire building heavily involved. Engine 25 was right behind them.  The primary fire building at 2108 Karns Place was a two-story, singl ..read more

To celebrate Women’s History Month, here are 125+ newspaper articles on the history of female firefighters in North Carolina, both volunteer and career, from 1973 to present. Primary sources are newspapers.com (paid) and Digital North Carolina Newspapers (free). Most of the stories are from earlier decades. View via this Google Drive. Share 0 Share 0 Share 0 ..read more

Vicki Silverthorne photo Listen to radio traffic Run card for the major commercial structure fire at 6300 US 64 in Manns Harbor in Dare County on February 27, 2024.  Sta 11 – Duck (32.0 miles) E11 Sta 12 – Southern Shores E12 E121 Rehab 12 Sta 13 – Kitty Hawk E13 Sta 14 – Kill Devil Hills Truck 14 (Sutphen tower, 1500/300/100′) Sta 15 – Colington E151 (secondary drafting supply) Chief 15 Rehab 15 Sta 16 – Nags Head Sta 21 – Nags Head E21 Deputy Chief 16 Squad 16 (manpower) Sta 17 – Roanoke Island Sta 17 – Wanchese Chief 17 Asst. Chief 17 Tanker 17 Truck 17 (Pierce tower, 2 ..read more

Research notes on fatal ambulance accidents in North Carolina. Most involve collisions with other vehicles. Sources include newspapers.com, Digital North Carolina Newspapers, the Fayetteville Observer archives via News Bank, and numerous Google searches.  See source documents in this Google Drive. 2020 to 2024  February 13, 2024 – Cumberland County Cape Fear Valley Medical Center ambulance collided with a Dodge Dakota pick-up truck on Butler Nursery Road near Nash Road just about 10:30 p.m. The ambulance was operating its emergency lights and travelling eastbound. It had slowed to m ..read more