Durham Fire Department – Line of Duty Deaths

Posted by on

Research notes on Durham Fire Department line of duty deaths. 

Andrew Johnathan Brokes

Age: 24 | Rank: Firefighter
Date of death: October 8, 2026

Brokes died at the scene of a commercial structure fire on Marly Drive, after a roof collapsed while he and other firefighters were conducting searches on the first floor. The building had been converted for residential use.

Heavy fire was showing the building, when the first units arrived after the dispatch at about 3:18 a.m. At about 3:30 a.m., a roof collapse was reported, and maydays were subsequently sounded. A second alarm was sounded. 

Three firefighters had been searching the first floor, when the collapse occurred. Two were rescued within minutes and then transported to the hospital with minor injures. The rescue effort continued for the third firefighter. He was later recovered and pronounced dead at the scene. Later that day, department officials identified the fallen firefighter as Andrew Brokes. 

Brokes was a member of Tower 5, a newly created designation for Ladder 13. He had been a member of DFD since May 5, 2025. He was also a current/past member of Swepsonville, Elon, and Efland fire departments.

Read blog post about the incident.

David Scott Merritt Continue reading ‘Durham Fire Department – Line of Duty Deaths’ »

Facebook Comments

Durham Firefighter Andrew Brokes Killed in Line of Duty

Posted by on

On Thursday, October 8, 2026, Durham firefighter Andrew J. Brokes was killed after a roof collapse while he was inside the structure. He was 24 years old and had been a member of the department since May 5, 2025. He was assigned to Tower 5 at Station 13.

Said an official statement from the Durham Fire Department this afternoon, Firefighter Brokes was searching for victims inside the structure when he was killed.

Two other firefighters were injured, but have not been identified. They were transported to Duke Medical Center, and both have been treated and are expected to make full recoveries.

Funeral Arrangements – Added October 11

The arrangements as announced by the Durham Fire Department:

Visitation – Friday, October 16 – 4:00 pm. to 7:00 p.m.
Funeral – Saturday, October 17 – 4:00 p.m.

The Lamb’s Chapel Hill
3539 Alamance Road
Burlington, NC 27215

His obituary is pending.

Continue reading ‘Durham Firefighter Andrew Brokes Killed in Line of Duty’ »

Facebook Comments

Morehead City Line of Duty Death – May 1, 1951

Posted by on

Research notes on the May 1951 apparatus accident in Morehead City, NC, that killed one firefighter and injured two others, when a recently delivered pumper overturned while returning from pump testing.

Carteret County News-Times –  Friday, May 4, 1951

Photo caption: At the upper left, the Morehead City fire truck rests on its left side. Covered with a white blanket is the body of Andrew Bell. At right is another scene of the wrecked truck. In the background at lower left are Craven county highway patrolmen, Nathan Robinson and J. T. Jenkins. At lower right, Billy Rowe, left, an 11th grade pupil at Newport school, looks at the crumpled steering wheel and front seat on which Bell, his brother, Grady, and Eric Lewis were riding. News-Times Photos.

Andrew Bell Killed in Morehead Fire Truck Crash

Continue reading ‘Morehead City Line of Duty Death – May 1, 1951’ »

Facebook Comments

Wrightsboro Line of Duty Death – July 9, 1960

Posted by on

Found this this week from New Hanover County. Wrightsboro Fire Chief Ed Wright died in the line of duty on July 9, 1960. He suffered a cardiac event while directing operations at a fire in the Rock Hill community.

Chief Wright, 58, was found slumped by a fire truck. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Walker Memorial Hospital.

Owner and operator of a dry cleaning establishment, Wright was credited as organizing the Wrightsboro Volunteer Fire Department in 1950. And a year later, he donated the land on where their fire station stood.

He had been chief of department for five years and was the first assistant fire chief in 1950. He likely served as assistant fire chief in subsequent years. The text of his obituary is below.

Historical Perspective

From Legeros research, this raises the total of 17 known FD LODDs in New Hanover County history:

1868 – Wilmington – Richard Merrick
1868 – Wilmington – Robert Bellamy
1880 – Wilmington – William Ellerbrock
1893 – Wilmington – Joseph Willard
1932 – Wilmington – Willie Monroe
1933 – Wilmington – Charles Schnibben
1935 – Wilmington – Raymond Core
1941 – Wilmington – Emmett Williamson
1956 – Wilmington – Oscar Willis
1960 – Wrightsboro – Edward Wright
1972 – Wilmington – Burleigh Scotton
1981 – Wrightsville Beach – Robert Wynn
1987 – Wilmington – Harold Sandlin
2013 – New Hanover – David Heath
2014 – Wilmington – Eric Lacewell
2019 – Kure Beach – Dennis Ebersole
2020 – Kure Beach – Harold Heglar

Obituary

Funeral services for Edward Baker Wright, 58, of 572 Castle Hayne Rd., who died Saturday, will be conducted today at 3 p.m. from the Chapel of Andrews Mortuary.

The Rev. E. A. Dasher, assisted by the Rev. Frank A. Elliott and the Rev. A. B. Bumgarner, will officiate. Interment will be in Bethany Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be Bobby Seitter, Roger Seitter, David A. Seitter, William Funderburg, Ed M. Meyland and Robert Hooker Jr.

Honorary pallbearers will be E. B. Ward, L. G. Herring, W. C. Ramseur, Herbert Rivenbark, J. T. Padgett, L. E. Sikes, W. A. Spencer, N. B. Lanier, Robert Chadwick, James Middleton, George Hilliard, J. W. Guyton, W. T. Miar Sr., Bobby Myers and James S. Caison.

Also Howard H. Caison, P. H. Braak, J. W. Croom, Clayton Fountain, Elbert Lennon, Dirk Swart Jr., Gerrit Swart, Hendrick Swart, H. T. Newland, Hooper Johnson Sr., Allan Perryman, George W. Barfield, and J. E. L. Wade.

Also George W. Trask Sr., Ed Godwin Jr., Ivey McGee, N. E. Martin, L. W. Malpass Sr., Columbus L. Ritter, E. L. Wilson, J. C. Frye, members of the Wrightsboro Volunteer Fire Department, and representatives from the volunteer fire departments of New Hanover County.

Facebook Comments

New Hanover County Airport Fire Department History

Posted by on

Presenting a new history of New Hanover County International Airport’s fire department. 

See also this posting about the airport’s fire apparatus. 

Last updated September 26, 2026. 

1920s to 1949

1927 – First landing at airport. 

1928, May 30 – Airfield named Bluethenthal Field in memory of Arthur Bluethenthal, first person from Wilmington and the second from North Carolina to be killed in World War I.

1941, Dec 8 – Army Air Corps moved onto the airfield. Added facilities included a bomber command station and facility support including a hospital and administrative offices. 

194_ – Airport deeded to county at no cost. 

1946, Oct – Snapshot. Airport had two small pumpers, each with 300 gallon capacity, and eight men on duty. Wilmington Fire Chief Ludie J. Croom filed a report on the airport’s fire protection to airport officials, in preparation for recommendations from the federal government that the city take over fire protection at the airport. City officials informally said that the time and four-mile distance of the airport from the city would make it difficult for “local fire departments to act effectively in emergencies.” [WMS [Wilmington Morning Star], 10/8/46]

1950 to 1979 Continue reading ‘New Hanover County Airport Fire Department History’ »

Facebook Comments

Maffitt Village Fire Department

Posted by on

This is a blog version of a Facebook posting from December 2019. 

Wilmington, 1945. What are we seeing here?

Mark Stiller posted this picture to the group N.C. Old Photos and Things of Interest. [1] Almost looks like a maintenance truck, notably with the building labeled “Engineering Dept. Housing Authority.” But it’s a fire engine.

Was this one of Wilmington’s “auxiliary fire trucks” that they operated back in the day, along with Raleigh, Durham, and Greensboro? Could be, except… this truck doesn’t look like what’s pictured here: legeros.com/ralwake/photos/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=3998

Rather, this seems more likely the truck that served Maffitt Village FD, which was an early precursor of South Wilmington FD. From this page of mine: legeros.com/history/new-hanover/south-wilmington.html

“During World War II, the population of Wilmington was exploding. By 1943, the number of residents had grown from 33,407 in 1939 to more than 120,000. Many had come to help with the country’s defense and worked for the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company on the Cape Fear River. At its height, the shipyard employed 21,000.

To help with the resulting housing shortage, the Housing Authority of the City of Wilmington helped build and manage several federally-funded projects. One was started south of the city and near the shipyard as the Captain John N. Maffitt homes.

A combination of duplexes and multi-family units, they were completed in November 1943, with a total of 4,182 units. The community also included a twelve-bed infirmary, recreation areas, and a strip mall on Vance Street, with a grocer, barber, beauty shop, drug store, and post office. Two churches were nearby, and an 800-seat theater was built across Carolina Beach Road from the Village.

The village also had a volunteer fire department by July 1950, and perhaps months or years earlier. They had a fire truck, and a garage for storing the apparatus.”

Readers, your thoughts?

[1] Source photo is N_53_16_2092 Wilmington Housing Authority Activities and Offices 1945. Photo by Albert Barden. From the Albert Barden Collection, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, NC

Facebook Comments

Multi-Fatality Emergency Vehicle Accidents in North Carolina

Posted by on

On September 19, 2026, an apparatus accident in Granville County killed three civilians, when an SUV rear-ended a pumper at an accident scene on Interstate 85 near Oxford, NC. What’s the historical perspective on multi-fatality emergency vehicle accidents in North Carolina? Here’s take one of results:

Summary

Date Department / Vehicle County Fatalities Responders Civilians
1/1/1926 Lexington Fire Davidson 3 3 0
4/10/1955 Peeler Funeral Home Rowan 2 0 2
10/8/1961 Sisk Funeral Home Gaston 2 0 2
2/8/1962 TBD Sampson 3 0 3
12/13/1964 Stokes Mortuary  Nash 2 0 2
12/5/1968 Raleigh Police  Wake 2 2 0
8/4/1975 Enfield Rescue Squad  Halifax 2 1 1
2/21/1983 Stokes County EMS  Stokes 2 0 2
4/4/1997 Charlotte Fire Mecklenburg 2 0 2
8/3/2000 Wake County EMS  Wake 3 0 3
3/24/2007 Rhodestown Fire Onslow 2 2 0
5/23/2010 North Carolina State Highway Patrol  Guilford 2 0 2
7/25/2017 North Carolina State Highway Patrol  Haywood 2 0 2
8/13/2021 Hertford County EMS  Hertford 2 0 2
3/3/2023 Harnett County Sheriff’s Office  Harnett 2 0 2
8/3/2023 Pender EMS & Fire  Pender 2 0 2
7/17/2024 Greensboro Police Guilford 3 0 3
3/1/2026 North Carolina State Highway Patrol  Durham 2 1 1
9/19/2026 Providence Fire Granville 3 0 3

Details

Date – Department / Vehicle – County – Fatalities – Responders – Civilians

1/1/1926 – Lexington Fire – Davidson – 3 – 3 – 0
Engine responding to a fire call collided with an automobile at Main and Third streets in Lexington. Three firefighters were killed and two others were critically injured.
Killed were: Firefighters D. C. Cope, Ed Cope, and Howard Michael.

4/10/1955 – Peeler Funeral Home – Rowan – 2 – 0 – 2
Ambulance transporting a seven-year-old car accident victim collided with a car at West Innes Street and Mahaley Avenue in Salisbury. The child and a 39-year-old woman in the car were ejected and killed; five others were injured.
Killed were: Seven-year-old patient and a 39-year-old woman in the car.

10/8/1961 – Sisk Funeral Home – Gaston – 2 – 0 – 2
Ambulance returning from an out-of-town call collided head-on with a car near Bessemer City. Both occupants of the car later died.
Killed were: Two men, ages 19 and 21.

2/8/1962 – TBD – Sampson – 3 – 0 – 3
Ambulance transporting a patient from a Clinton hospital to their home collided broadside with a car leaving Hobbton High School on US 701 near Newton Grove. Three students were killed and six others injured.
Killed were: Three 18-year-old students.

12/13/1964 – Stokes Mortuary  – Nash – 2 – 0 – 2 –
Ambulance operating with red light and siren collided with a Chevrolet at Thomas and Pine streets in Rocky Mount.
Killed were: A 21-year-old woman and a two-year-old child in the car.

12/5/1968 – Raleigh Police  – Wake – 2 – 2 – 0
Two officers responding to check on another officer were struck by another automobile and pushed into a utility pole.
Killed were: Officers James Wade Allen and James Gale Lee.

8/4/1975 – Enfield Rescue Squad  – Halifax – 2 – 1 – 1
Ambulance and automobile collided at SR 1210 and SR 1216. Both drivers were trapped and subsequently died.
Killed were: The 48-year-old ambulance driver and the automobile driver.

2/21/1983 – Stokes County EMS  – Stokes – 2 – 0 – 2
Ambulance sideswiped a car while attempting to pass the vehicle. It left the highway, struck a tree, and overturned several times near Pilot Mountain.
Killed were: The 73-year-old patient and her 32-year-old companion.

4/4/1997 – Charlotte Fire – Mecklenburg – 2 – 0 – 2
Apparatus responding to an apartment fire collided with a Honda Accord on Park Road near Seneca Avenue.
Killed were: Two 16-year-old occupants of the Honda.

8/3/2000 – Wake County EMS  – Wake – 3 – 0 – 3
Ambulance transporting an injured Wake Forest police officer collided with a Toyota Corolla at Capital Boulevard and Calvary Drive in Raleigh, after the Toyota entered its path.
Killed were: Three men in the Toyota.

3/24/2007 – Rhodestown Fire – Onslow – 2 – 2 – 0
A 1987 Chevrolet tanker overturned while responding to a structure fire. Both firefighters aboard were killed.
Killed were: Firefighters Billy Harold Williams and Brandon Michael Whimple.

5/23/2010 – North Carolina State Highway Patrol  – Guilford – 2 – 0 – 2
Trooper was pursuing a speeding vehicle with blue lights activated when another car turned into his path at US 70 and River Road near Jamestown.
Killed were: Sandra Allmond, 55, and an 11-year-old girl.

7/25/2017 – North Carolina State Highway Patrol  – Haywood – 2 – 0 – 2
Trooper traveling on US 74 with lights and siren operating collided with an eastbound van that was making a U-turn. The trooper was seriously injured.
Killed were: Two occupants of the van.

8/13/2021 – Hertford County EMS  – Hertford – 2 – 0 – 2
Responding ambulance operating with lights and siren collided with a Honda at US 13 and Old NC 11 and overturned.
Killed were: Two women in the Honda, ages 28 and 29.

3/3/2023 – Harnett County Sheriff’s Office  – Harnett – 2 – 0 – 2
Deputy was pursuing a speeding vehicle on NC 210 when his patrol SUV collided with a pickup at Ray Road. Two people in the pickup truck were killed.
Killed were: Brian Finch and Patricia Finch.

8/3/2023 – Pender EMS & Fire  – Pender – 2 – 0 – 2
SUV crossed the centerline of US 117 near St. Helena and struck the ambulance head-on. The patient died at the scene; the SUV driver died nine days later.
Killed were: A 54-year-old ambulance patient and the SUV driver.

7/17/2024 – Greensboro Police – Guilford – 3 – 0 – 3
During a pursuit involving a suspected impaired or wrong-way driver, the fleeing vehicle collided with a responding patrol car on Walker Avenue.
Killed were: Three teenagers—two age 14 and one age 15.

3/1/2026 – North Carolina State Highway Patrol  – Durham – 2 – 1 – 1
Trooper traveling north on NC 147 was struck head-on by a wrong-way driver. Both drivers died.
Killed were: Master Trooper Steven J. Perry, 30, and Melshawn Moore, 39.

9/19/2026 – Providence Fire – Granville – 3 – 0 – 3
SUV rear-ended unoccupied pumper blocking at an accident on I-85 near mile marker 197.
Killed were: Jason Nye, 31, Christina Nye, 32, and their daughter, age 6. Their son, age 10, was seriously injured.

Sources

  • ChatGPT research
  • Legeros Fire Blog, Fatal Ambulance Accidents in North Carolina, https://legeros.com/blog/fatal-ambulance-accidents/
  • Legeros Fire Blog, Apparatus Accidents with Civilian Fatalities, https://legeros.com/blog/apparatus-accidents/

 

Facebook Comments

Amtrak Hostage Situation in Raleigh – October 1982

Posted by on

Looking back at the three-day hostage situation that unfolded at Seaboard Station in downtown Raleigh starting on Friday, October 8, 1982.

These pics originated from News and Observer and Raleigh Times photographers (and likely others) and were transmitted far and wide, via AP and UPI.

Question for older timers, how far/close was the yellow tape back then? And could news crews get closer? Doubt that same shots are possible today at a similar incident, at least via cameras on the ground.

Below are narrative notes. See also the original newspaper clippings in the Google Drive folder, linked at bottom.

Amtrak Silver Star Bound for Raleigh Continue reading ‘Amtrak Hostage Situation in Raleigh – October 1982’ »

Facebook Comments

Selma Amtrak Train Derailment – May 16, 1994

Posted by on

This is a blog version of a Facebook posting from September 13, 2026.

Looking back at the May 1994 derailment in Selma that killed a crew member and injured 121 people. Found a couple photos from newspaper coverage. Looking for others.

On May 16, 1994, at 4:36 a.m., Amtrak Train 87 and CSX freight train 176 passed each other on parallel tracks on the south side of Selma in Johnston County.

The southbound Silver Meteor was traveling from New York City to Jacksonville, Florida. Aboard were 415 passengers, five operating crew members, and 18 onboard-service employees. It had two locomotives and 18 cars.

The northbound freight train had three locomotives and 52 cars. Two of the cars were empty. With some 4,449 trailing tons and a length of 6,188 feet, it was a trailer-on-flatcar/container-on-flatcar intermodal train.

The Accident

As the two trains passed each other, a truck trailer either fell or was falling off the freight train and into the path of the passenger train.

The 51st rail car was an 89-foot flatcar. Two truck trailers were aboard. The one that fell off was 45 feet long and carried some 43,400 pounds of kitty litter. Its cargo was being shipped by Mid-Florida Mining Company of Lowell, Florida.

Continue reading ‘Selma Amtrak Train Derailment – May 16, 1994’ »

Facebook Comments