Charlotte Fire Department

Last updated
Charlotte Fire Department
Charlotte Fire Department Logo.png
Operational area
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
State Flag of North Carolina.svg  North Carolina
City Flag placeholder.svg Charlotte
Agency overview [1]
Established1875 (1875)
Annual calls~ 137,000 (2022)
Employees1,300 (2022)
Annual budget$137,741,974 (2021)
StaffingCareer
Fire chief Reginald Johnson
IAFF 660
Facilities and equipment [2]
Divisions1
Battalions8
Stations 43
Engines 43
Trucks 13
Tillers 2 on Order
Platforms 4
Rescues 2
Tenders 6
HAZMAT 4
USAR 6
Airport crash 10
Wildland 5
Fireboats 2
Rescue boats 4
Website
Official website
IAFF website

The Charlotte Fire Department (CFD) provides fire suppression, emergency medical services, technical rescue services, hazardous materials mitigation, disaster response, code enforcement, fire investigations, and public education for the city of Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. [3] [4] [5] The department is responsible for an area of approximately 312 square miles (810 km2) with a day population of two million and a night population of 885,000. [5]

Contents

History

An example of the NFPA 704 "safety square", developed on the initiative of the CFD. NFPA 704 label of hydrofluosilicic acid.jpg
An example of the NFPA 704 "safety square", developed on the initiative of the CFD.

The Charlotte Fire Department was officially formed in 1875, although fire services existed in the area for decades before that. [6]

Charlotte Fire Department is notable for its role in the development of NFPA 704, the "fire diamond" found on chemicals which depicts in a simple and clear manner the flammability, health hazards and reactivity of the substance. A fire at the Charlotte Chemical Company in 1959 led to severe injuries to many of the firefighters. [7] [8] Upon arrival, the fire crew found a fire burning inside a vat that firefighters assumed to be burning kerosene. The crew tried to suppress the fire with water, which resulted in the vat exploding due to metallic sodium being stored in the kerosene. Thirteen firefighters were injured, several of whom had critical injuries while one lost both ears and most of his face from the incident. At the time, such vats were not labelled with the materials they contained, so firefighters did not have the necessary information to recognize that hazardous materials were present, which required a specific response. In this case, sodium was able to react with water to release hydrogen gas and large amounts of heat.

The Charlotte Fire Department developed training to respond to fires involving hazardous materials, ensured that protective clothing was available to those responding, and expanded the fire prevention inspection program. Fire Marshal J. F. Morris developed the diamond-shaped placard as a marking system to indicate when a building contained hazardous materials. [9]

Stations and apparatus

As of August 2024 this is the current list of stations and apparatus for the department: [10]

Fire Station NumberNeighborhoodEngine CompanyLadder CompanyRescue CompanySpecial UnitBattalion Chief Unit
1First WardEngine 1Ladder 1Field Comm 1 & 2, MCP 1, Vent 1, Division Chief (Car 6, 7,8)Battalion Chief 1
2South EndEngine 2Ladder 2 relocated to 43
3RamaEngine 3Tower 3
4Fourth Ward (Uptown)Engine 4Ladder 4
5Wesley HeightsEngine 5Brush 5
6Myers ParkEngine 6
7NoDaEngine 7
8Plaza MidwoodEngine 8Rehab 1
9Providence TownshipEngine 9Tanker 9
10Camp GreeneEngine 10Rescue 10Dive 10Battalion Chief 3
11Graham HeightsEngine 11Rescue 11Dive 11
12Madison ParkEngine 12
13South HoskinsEngine 13Ladder 13Hazmat 13
14CotswoldEngine 14
15ShamrockEngine 15
16South ParkEngine 16Ladder 16
17Charlotte Douglas International Airport EastEngine 17Blazes 1, 2, 5, & 14Battalion Chief 8
18Washington HeightsEngine 18Tower 18
19LandsdowneEngine 19
20StarmountEngine 20Brush 20Battalion Chief 5
21Paw CreekEngine 21Brush 21 & Foam 21
22DeritaEngine 22Tanker 22
23Hickory GroveEngine 23Ladder 23
24Carmel VillageEngine 24Ladder 24
25OakdaleEngine 25Foam 25Battalion Chief 6
26AyrsleyEngine 26Tower 26
27University CityEngine 27Tower 27Battalion Chief 2
28NorthlakeEngine 28Ladder 28
29Idlewild SouthEngine 29Brush 29
30Whippoorwill LakeEngine 30
31Highland CreekEngine 31Ladder 31Brush 31
32BallantyneEngine 32Ladder 32Hazmat 32
33ShuffletownEngine 33Ladder 33Deluge 33, Tanker 33
34NewellEngine 34Decon 34, Hazmat 34
35Withrow DownsEngine 35Tanker 35
36Mallard CreekEngine 36MOC 1
37Steele CreekEngine 37 Engine 90Tanker 37
38Withers CoveEngine 38Dive 38, Fire Boat 38
39The ArboretumEngine 39Ladder 39Battalion Chief 7
40WilgroveEngine 40Ladder 40Tanker 40
41Charlotte Douglas International Airport WestBlazes 41, 42, & 47
42EastlandEngine 42, Engine 65Battalion Chief 4
43Clanton ParkEngine 43Ladder 2USAR 1, USAR 2
44 Under ConstructionRiver DistrictEngine 44
45 Under ConstructionHidden ValleyLadder 45
46 Coming SoonBeatties Ford Road / Miranda RoadEngine 46
3rd Airport Station (Station 47)Charlotte Douglas International Airport

See also

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References

  1. "FY2015 Strategic Operation Plan" (PDF). City of Charlotte. Retrieved 24 April 2015.[ permanent dead link ]
  2. "Operations". Charlotte Fire Department. Archived from the original on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  3. Chrisman, Spencer (July 16, 2024). "Firefighters extinguish 2-alarm fire at brewery in NoDa". www.wbtv.com.
  4. "Firefighters contain 2-alarm fire at Heist Brewery in NoDa". 17 July 2024.
  5. 1 2 "About Us". Charlotte Fire Department. Archived from the original on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  6. "History". Charlotte Fire Department. Archived from the original on 16 April 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  7. "Fact Friday 153 - Charlotte's Haz-Mat History". 704 Shop. 22 June 2018. Retrieved 2022-02-22.
  8. "July marks 62 years since Charlotte Fire invented Haz-Mat safety measure". Queen City News. 2021-06-28. Retrieved 2022-02-22.
  9. "History of the Charlotte Fire Department" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-04-07. Retrieved 2022-02-22.
  10. "Stations". Charlotte Fire Department. Archived from the original on 13 May 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.