Fire News North Carolina, Oct./Nov. 2023

Story on page 6.

- Fire News photo by Mike Legeros

Recycling Center Fire

Mooresville firefighters find a compactor on fire and spreading.

See story on page 10

Woods Fire in Faison

Anumber of departments respond to a fire in the woods on Preacher Henry Rd.

See story on page 12

Fatality at Monroe

Anitrogen tanker and an SUV crash head-on, overturning the tanker and killing one driver.

See story on page 17

2023 Fire Rescue Expo

Highlights from the 2023 South Atlantic Fire Rescue Expo.

See story on pages 18-20

Missing Hiker in Transylvania

The Transylvania County Rescue Squad finds a hiker seriously injured and off trail.

See story on page 25

Obituary

Transylvania’s

James Ray Kellar

See story on page 26

AService for North Carolina Firefighters and EMS Providers

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NEW FEATURE NEW FEATURE

NEWVENUE FOR NFFF2023 9/11 STAIR CLIMB

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) has announced a change in venue forthe 2023 National 9/11 Memorial StairClimb for Fallen Firefighters.

This annual event benefits the FDNY Counseling Service Unit and NFFF programs for families of fallen firefighters. The 2023 National Stair Climb will be held on Sunday, October 15, 2023, at Louis Armstrong Stadium at the USTABillie Jean King National Tennis Center, home of the U.S. Open Championships. More info at www.nationalstairclimb.org.

INTERESTINGIDEAFOR A FUNDRAISER

Some of Marion County’s (FL) bravest men and women lined up to test theirmight in an annual “Bearthe Burden” weightlifting competition. The event consisted of three main categories for competitors to test their strength: back squats, bench presses and deadlifts. Each competitor paid a $20 entry fee to the Marion County Firefighter Benevolence Fund to help raise awareness for first responders’mental health struggles.

- Courtesy of WUFT-TVPBS 5 Gainesville

VOLUNTEER FIRST RESPONDER HOUSINGACT

On June 21, 2023, Congressman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY-02) introduced the VolunteerFirst ResponderHousing Act, legislation to expand eligibility forqualified volunteeremergency responders to participate in certain federal housing assistance programs. Original cosponsors of the legislation include Representatives Elissa Slotkin (DMI-7), Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), Dan Kildee (D-MI-08), Frank Lucas (R-OK-03), Derek Kilmer (D-AW-06) and Claudia Tenney (RNY-24). Specifically, this bill would expand eligibility for the Single-Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development and the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Good Neighbor Next Door Sales Program. The Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program assists approved lenders in providing loans to low and moderate income households to build, rehabilitate or improve a home in eligible rural areas. The income limit for the program is no more than 115% of the median household income.

FUTURE FIREFIGHTING

The University of Maryland Autonomous Micro Air Vehicle (AMAV) student team competed in the First Responder UAS Challenges hosted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Annual Design-Build-Vertical Flight Competition hosted by the Vertical Flight Society (VFS). Their AMAV’s Gambit was a low-cost, easyto-fly drone specifically tailored to operate indoors, while providing full light, low light, and thermal imaging. The drone design, fabrication, assembly, and testing were performed by University of Maryland students. The students won over $150,000 in the national competition.

Thermal, HD, and night-vision cameras were mounted on a remote-controlled gimbal with a 180° range of motion, which enabled the drone to precisely maneuver in constrained environments and positively identify objects of interest in any lighting condition. Theirdrone was based on the DJI Matrice 300 drone, a popularchoice forfirst responders. For more go to https://www.nist.gov/ctl/pscr/amav-umd.

Raleigh House Fire

City and county units fought a pre-dawn fire on Leesville Road on August 27, 2023. Raleigh Engine 23, Ladder23, and Durham Highway Engine 1 were first-arriving to heavy fire in a single-family dwelling. City of Durham, Northern Wake, Western Wake, and Morrisville fire departments were also on scene.

- Fire News photos by Mike Legeros

Fatality at Mooresville House Explosion

On August 22, 2023, at midnight, Mooresville and Lake Norman Fire Rescue were alerted fora house explosion on BarberLoop in Mooresville. Arriving units found a large home had exploded and debris was scattered all overthe area. One person was transported to the hospital and crews from Shepherds, Troutman and South Iredell were also called to the scene to assist in searching forany victims. One body was recovered as crews continue sifting through the rubble. - Fire News photos by ImmsterFirePhotos

Vehicle Fire on Bowdens Rd.

Shed Fire on Gov. Moore Road

On June 9, 2023, in the early morning hours, Faison Volunteer Fire-Rescue responded to a working vehicle fire on Bowdens Road. Crews arrived quickly and extinguished the fire. The Duplin County Fire Marshal responded to the scene to assist with the investigation.

- Submitted by David Miller

While units from Piney Grove VolunteerFire Department, Turkey VolunteerFire Department, Newton Grove VolunteerFire Department, Faison VolunteerFire-Rescue, Warsaw Volunteer Fire Department, and Calypso VolunteerFire Department, were on the scene of a large woods fire. Crews from Clinton, Turkey and Faison also responded to GovernorMoore Road fora working structure fire in an outbuilding. Units arrived and extinguished the blaze without incident orinjuries. - Submitted by David Miller

Truck Fire Stopped

On June 4, 2023, Kenansville VolunteerFire Department, Warsaw VolunteerFire Department, Duplin County EMS, and Kenansville Police responded to South Main Street at the Family Dollar/DollarTree fora vehicle fire endangering a commercial structure. Kenansville units arrived and found a working fire and began extinguishment. Warsaw units arrived and assisted on scene units. Minordamage was reported to the front of the store.

- Submitted by David Miller

Hay Bales on Fire Draw a Crowd

On June 20, 2023, Pink Hill VolunteerFire-Rescue, Deep Run VolunteerFire Department, Southwood VolunteerFire Department, Hargetts Crossroad VolunteerFire Department, Potters Hill VolunteerFire Department, North Carolina Forestry Service, LenoirCounty EMS, and Lenoir County Fire Marshal responded to over750 bales of hay burning on West Pleasant Hill Road. Several attack lines and boosterlines were utilized to extinguish the blaze along with a bulldozerand plow from NCFS. Units remained on scene forseveral hours.

- Submitted by David Miller

Recycling Station Fire

On July 5, 2023 at 2313, Mooresville Fire Rescue was alerted foran automatic alarm at the BSS transferstation on McKenzie Road. Arriving units found heavy smoke coming from the large commercial recycling structure. Aworking fire was transmitted and additional companies responded. Afire was found in the compactor with extension and a second alarm was transmitted with neighboring departments responding. An airboat was called to the scene to help ventilate the large structure. No injuries were reported.

- Fire News photos by Kevin Imm

Fire Held to Garages in Chapel Hill

Recently, SilerCity Ladder9 was dispatched to assist Pittsboro Fire-Rescue, along with a full first-alarm assignment, to the Chapel Ridge Development fora house fire. Ladder9 arrived and assumed second-due truck operations behind North Chatham Tower1. Pittsboro Engines 1 and 2 personnel made a great stop and held the majority of the fire to the garages with minimal extension to the house. Great work by all! North Chatham and Silk Hope also responded.

- Submitted by Scott Murphy, Fire Chief

Abandoned

Poultry Farm Fire

On August 8, 2023, around 0730, Potters Hill Volunteer Fire Department, Beulaville VolunteerFire Department, Sarecta VolunteerFire Department, Pink Hill Volunteer Fire-Rescue, Duplin County EMS, and the Duplin County Fire Marshal responded to a working commercial structure fire at an abandoned poultry farm. Potters Hill units arrived to heavy fire throughout the structure. Extinguishment was started with two 1-3/4 inch attack lines and a tankershuttle provided water.

- Submitted by David Miller

Woods Fire in Faison

Fire Damage Held to Room of Origin

Warsaw VolunteerFire Department, Faison VolunteerFire-Rescue, Kenansville Volunteer Fire Department, Oak Wolfe VolunteerFire Department, Duplin County Fire Marshal, and Duplin County EMS responded to a working structure fire on West Wards Bridge Road. Fire units arrived quickly and held most of the fire damage to the room of origin.

- Submitted by David Miller

On August 6, 2023, Piney Grove VolunteerFire Department, Faison VolunteerFire-Rescue, Halls Volunteer Fire Department, Turkey VolunteerFire Department, Newton Grove VolunteerFire Department, North Carolina Forestry Service, Suttontown Rescue and EMS, Sampson County EMS, Sampson County Fire Marshal, and Sampson County Emergency Management responded to a large woods fire on PreacherHenry Road. Units were on scene forseveral hours before getting the fire contained and controlled.

- Submitted by David Miller

Abandoned Residential Fire

On July 6, 2023, in the late evening, Wallace Volunteer Fire Department, Teachey VolunteerFire Department, Rose Hill VolunteerFire Department, Northeast VolunteerFire Department, Duplin County EMS, Duplin County Fire Marshal, and Wallace Police responded to the intersection of South College Street at East Carr Street foran abandoned residential structure fire. Units arrived to heavy smoke showing from the Aside of the structure. An aggressive interiorattack was made and stopped the fire progression. - Submitted by David Miller

Mooresville Structure Fire

On August 2, 2023, at 0927, Mooresville and Shepherds Fire Rescue responded to a report of a structure fire on Charlotte Highway in Mooresville. Arriving units found a well involved structure on Short Ridge Lane and a working fire was declared bringing Mount Mourne and South Iredell to the scene. Shepherds Engine 1 stretched multiple lines with arriving crews and got a good knock on the fire. Mooresville’s crew advanced a hose line through a side doorand was able to hit the fire from there. One firefighterfell through the roof onto the front porch but was not injured. Several pets died in the fire which was underinvestigation.

- Fire News photos by ImmsterFirePhotos.com

MowerFireFortunately

Suspicious Fire in Troutman

On July 26, 2023, at 1025, Wayside, Troutman and Shepherds fire rescue were alerted fora structure fire with a possible child w ithin. Wayside Engine 602 was first due and reported a mowerfire away from the house. Crews stretched one line and extinguished the fire and cancelled all responding units. Iredell EMS was ca lled to evaluate one person but was cancelled while en route.

- Fire News photo by ImmsterFirePhotos.com

On August 23, 2023, at 1735, Troutman Fire Rescue responded to a report of a structure fire on Old Murdock Road in Troutman. Units leaving the firehouse could see a headerin the sky. Engine 1 arrived to heavy fire showing from the second floorof the twostory home. They stretched two lines and, with the help of arriving crews, the fire was quickly brought undercontrol. An engine from Statesville and the AirVan from South Iredell were also called. The fire killed a dog and several pets and was deemed suspicious.

- Fire News photo by ImmsterFirePhotos.com

Fatality at Nitrogen TankerOverturn

On September10, 2023, around 1700, the Monroe Fire Department and Unionville Fire Department along with Union County EMS responded to a reported head-on collision involving a tankertruck in Monroe. Asmall tankercarrying nitrogen collided head-on with an SUVon Concord Highway. Firefighters had to extricate drivers from both the tankerand SUVwho were pinned within the wrecks. Due to a large spill of fuel and nitrogen along the highway, Monroe Fire Department Hazmat 5 was requested to respond. The crash caused the nitrogen tankerto overturn detaching the tank and causing the leak. One person was pronounced deceased at the scene. Asecond victim was transported by ground to the trauma centerat Atrium in Charlotte with life-threatening injuries. Concord Highway remained closed as firefighters mitigated the large spill and the Union County Sheriff Office investigated the crash.

- Fire News photos by FullyInvolvedMediaGroup.com

Fatality on English Hill Road

On August 9, 2023, at 1619, Mount Mourne Fire Rescue units were alerted foran MVAwith a carinto a structure on English Hills Road. Arriving units found two homes heavily damaged and an SUVdown an embankment behind the home with the driverin cardiac arrest. Mooresville Fire Rescue Special operations unit was called along with South Iredell Fire Rescue. No one was injured inside the homes, but the driverof the SUVwas pronounced at the scene. - Fire News photos by ImmsterFirePhotos.com

South Atlantic Fire Rescue Expo

- Fire News photos by Chris Creighton, Kevin Imm & Tesh Parekh/IWPPhotography

South Atlantic Fire Rescue Expo

South Atlantic Fire Rescue Expo

Photos from the South Atlantic Fire Rescue Expo held in Raleigh, NC.

- Fire News photos by FullyInvolvedMediaGroup.com and Mike Legeros

Up Close & Personal

Charlotte Fire Department Battalion Chief Parks in command at a recent MCI Training in Charlotte.

- Fire News photo by FullyInvolvedMedia Group.com

(Left to right): Carolina FD Board Member(Smithtown, NYex-Chief) Tim Crafts and Carolina FD Assistant Chief Michael Edsell at a recent live burn training.

- Fire News photo by FullyInvolvedMedia Group.com

Firefighters from Charlotte Fire Station 32 at a recent live burn training.

- Fire News photo by FullyInvolvedMediaGroup.com

Members of the Transylvania County Rescue Squad.

- Fire News photo courtesy of the Transylvania Co. RS

Cleveland FD Juniors Win at Competitions

JuniorFirefighters from the Cleveland Fire Department in Clayton and the trophies they have won at the last two juniorcompetitions they went to. We attended Warren County in April and won First Overall and multiple othertrophies. The most recent competition was in Alamance County earlierthis month and we won First Overall in this competition also.

- Submitted by Zack Howell, Battalion Chief

Remembering 9/11

On September11, 2023, the City of Raleigh Fire Department observed the 22nd anniversary of the events of 9/11. At each station, all personnel stood on the apron with theirapparatus, and a minute of silence was observed at 0846, the time Flight 11 crashed into the North Towerof the World Trade Center. Shown are the crews of Engine 16 and Rescue 16 on Lead Mine, both operating reserving rigs that day.

- Fire News photos by Mike Legeros

Westfield Gets Mini-Pumper

The Westfield Volunteer Fire Department recently got its first minipumper truck, which will beef up firefighting capabilities in t he more rural sections of its coverage area. It is the only truck of this design in Stokes and Surry counties, according to the department. The fire department took ownership of a new apparatus, designated 73 Engine 3, on June 15, 2023.

“The design allows the apparatus to bring advanced firefighter capabilities to many rural, off-road locations that bigger, conventional engines are unable to access because of the rural, narrow, steep, twisting driveways found in our district, officials with the department said. “It carries the same equipment and pumping capacity as our larg er, more-conventional engines. The vehicle can also operate as an o ff-road wildlands firefighting vehicle to supplement our current wild lands fire apparatus while also providing both on and off-road rescue capabilities.” Officials with the fire department first considered a mini-pumper style apparatus in the mid-1980s when former Chief Grant Christian led an effort to determine if the design was feasible and cost- effective for the district.

- Submitted by Jonathan Sutphin

Durham Activates New Station

The City of Durham Fire Department dedicated new Station 18 on August 26, 2023. It was activated on August 21 and houses an engine and a tanker, plus a cross-staffed brush truck. The first call was answered at 1130 for a sick person on Highway 751. The ceremony concluded with the fire chief and city officials uncoupling a ceremo-

nial section of hose.

The new station also houses Durham County EMS in a separate section of the building. Located at 6919 Herndon Road, it replaced a 47-year-old facility at 1409 Seaton Road, originally built by Parkwood Volunteer Fire Department and later operated by Durham County Fire-Rescue. It was

acquired by the Durham Fire Department in 2018, when DCFR merged with DFD.

Among the features of the new station is an indoor art installation that spotlights the history of the department. It features framed photos of artifacts and photographic prints.

- Fire News photos by Mike Legeros

THEYSAVED NEWYORK

Glenn Usdin is a professional photographer and a firefighter for over 40 years who has been photographing fires and firefighters in NYC since the mid 1970s. Dan Potter is a retired FDNY firefighter with the ability to tell the stories that bring the reader right into the firehouse or on the fireground. Together, Usdin and Potter conceived, photographed and told the stories that captures a wide range of firefighters in They Saved New York.

In the late 1960s, through the 1980s, the New York Fire Department experienced a historic rapid amount of fire duty. The firefighters who worked those years saw more actual fires in a week than most firefighters across the country saw in a year. Usdin felt strongly that these firefighter’s legacies needed to be preserved and honored in a unique way. That was the inspiration for the project that became They Saved New

York

Dan Potter spent hundreds of hours interviewing featured firefighters and then crafted their stories for the book with his deft writing style. Usdin captured evocative portraits of each of them, as well as hundreds of action photos he shot at fire scenes over 40 plus years. The result is a large format photo documentary that honors the profession as well as the featured individuals.

Aportion of the proceeds from this book will support four foundations that serve the needs of retired and current firefighters.

You may find out more about those foundations and the book here: www.TheySaved NY.com.

is about people who head into burning buildings when everyone else is running out.

Missing Hiker in Transylvania

Recently, Transylvania County Rescue Squad (TCRS) was alerted for a missing hiker. Based on sparse information, she was believed to be off-trail but possibly within 45 minutes of a trailhead. After confirming her vehicle’s presence at the designated location, teams swiftly initiated search procedures. Aprimary team assessed the main trail, while a secondary team delved into potential off-trail movements.

Through meticulous search methods and a stroke of good fortune, a team of three located the hiker, who had fallen approximately 30 feet, sustaining severe lifethreatening injuries, including a possible broken femur and potential spinal injuries. Immediate medical care was administered, stabilizing her for a demanding extraction. The terrain’s complexity necessitated collaboration, and with the invaluable assistance from other agencies, the patient was safely transferred to medical care via ambulance and then helicopter.

Other agencies involved included North Transylvania Fire Rescue Station 13, Brevard Fire Department, Cedar Mountain Fire Rescue Inc., Haywood County Search & Rescue, Henderson County Rescue Squad, Rosman Fire Rescue, Little River Volunteer Fire Department, Transylvania County Emergency Services, Connestee Fire Rescue.

- Photos courtesy of Transylvania County Rescue Squad

Obituary Transylvania’s James Ray Kellar

It is with great sadness Transylvania County Rescue Squad announced the passing of one of their founding members, lifetime member, and Board of Directors, James ‘Jim’Ray Kellar.

Jim passed away surrounded by family on September 18, 2023. He is remembered as a dedicated servant to his community who gave his life to se rving the residents and visitors of Transylvania County. In 1961, he and a group of his peers saw a need for specialized rescue services in the county and stepped up to act ion by founding the Transylvania County Rescue Squad.

For the following 62 years, he never stopped having involvement with the organization he helped build. Until his passing, he served as one of six boards of directors that helped guide the department to this day.

Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 562, Brevard, NC 28712.

- Photos courtesy of Transylvania County Rescue Squad

Charlotte Teen Dies AfterMVA

On September3, 2023, shortly after2100, the Charlotte Fire Department responded to a twocarcrash at Raintree Lane and Rounding Run Road in South Charlotte. An SUVdriven by a 17-yearold T-boned a sedan on the passenger side causing the SUVto overturn. The force of the crash sent the sedan into a rock and tree. Firefighters from Charlotte Fire Station 39-AShift quickly worked on patient care at a very chaotic scene. Firefighters triaged three other teens injured during the crash. Mecklenburg EMS rushed a 15-yearold girl who was a restrained driverin the sedan to the Trauma Center at Levine Children Hospital. The 15-yearold sadly succumbed to her

injuries a day later. The 17-yearold behind the wheel of the SUVwas arrested by police and charged with multiple crimes. Police said excessive speed and alcohol were contributing factors in this deadly crash. Raintree Lane was shut down forhours as police investigated.

- Fire News photo by FullyInvolvedMediaGroup.com