‘Illegal burn’ in Harnett County sparked blaze that sent firefighters to hospital

The Harnett County Fire Marshal’s Office is reminding residents of the dangers sparked by burning materials near a home and the laws that prohibit it after a destructive fire ­— caused by an illegal burn — sent three firefighters to the hospital Wednesday. The Erwin Fire Department and Rescue Squad was notified of a large outside fire at 1045 Antioch Church Road at 3:35 p.m. Wednesday. Six minutes later, Erwin’s Assistant Fire Chief John Wilkins upgraded the incident to a “fully-involved residential structure fire,” according to a release from Fire Marshal Rodney Daniels on Thursday. Wilkins said the rear of the home was fully-involved when they arrived on the scene along with the Dunn Fire Department. It didn’t take long for the fire to spread. Firefighters were attacking the blaze around 4 p.m. when a roof collapsed pushing three of them back. They were not under the roof when it caved in.
The Daily Record

Community supports injured Hendersonville Fire Department Capt. Josh Poore

Hendersonville Fire Department Capt. Josh Poore sustained a spinal cord injury while mountain biking on June 13. He was initially unable to move his arms or legs but has since regained some control over his legs. A firefighter since 2007 who also served in the U.S. Army Reserves in Afghanistan, Poore is being treated at Atlanta’s Shepherd Center, which specializes in spinal cord and brain injury rehabilitation. A number of fundraising events have been held to benefit Poore’s recovery, and several more are planned,
Asheville Mountain Express

Home caught on fire in Iredell County, destroying half, officials say

A house caught on fire in Iredell County late Thursday night, destroying half of the home, officials said. The family was home when the fire broke out, but they were able to safely escape with their dog. Authorities said the fire started around midnight at the home on Lightship Drive near the Trump National Golf Club on Lake Norman. The Fire Chief told Channel 9 that the fire floor collapsed into the basement of the home, fortunately, no one was hurt. Officials said they are not sure what started the fire.
WSOC-TV ABC 9 Charlotte

Atlantic Beach Police Department investigating death at marina

Police are investigating an unattended death that occurred Thursday at Anchorage Marina. A call went out over the scanner around 4:43 p.m. Thursday of a report of a boating incident in the water at Anchorage Marina at 517 E. Fort Macon Road. First responders from the Atlantic Beach fire and police departments responded, according to Fire Chief Mike Simpson. “There was a boat adrift out in the sound,” Chief Simpson said, referring to Bogue Sound. “We and the police department launched our rescue boats and came in contact with a male floating face down in the water.”
Carolina Coastline

Update: Homeless man set on fire in Asheville has died; suspect now charged with first-degree murder

A homeless man, set on fire over the weekend in East Asheville, has died from his injuries and the man accused of intentionally setting the fire has been charged with first-degree murder, WLOS reports. Authorities say 58-year-old Larry Donnell Alston was set on fire just before 1 a.m. Sunday morning. Alston was transported to the Wake Forest Baptist Health Burn Center in Winston-Salem. The Asheville Police Department said Alston passed away due to his injuries at approximately 4 a.m. Thursday. Robert Charles Austin, 66, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with attempted murder. Warrants show those charges were upgraded to first-degree murder Thursday morning. Austin is being held with no bond in the Buncombe County Jail on charges of first-degree murder. His next court date is scheduled for Sept. 11.
WGHP-TV FOX 8

Chapel Hill Fire Department Remembers Retired Chief Everett Lloyd

Retired Fire Chief Everett L. Lloyd, the Chapel Hill Fire Department’s fourth full-time fire chief, died Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019. He was 91. Chief Lloyd was appointed to lead the department on April 1, 1968; he served until his retirement on Jan. 8, 1990. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Chief Lloyd and his family,” says Fire Chief Matthew Sullivan. “Many practices, systems, and facilities were initiated or built under the leadership of Chief Lloyd. There are multiple things our firefighters touch on a daily basis that were influenced by him.” Chief Lloyd was an Orange County native, having grown up on a small farm in White Cross—a small town along N.C. Highway 54 west of Chapel Hill and Carrboro. He attended high school in Chapel Hill and after graduating joined the Chapel Hill Fire Department for 10 months before returning to work for a family-run sawmill.
Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Battalion chief shocked by downed power line in Archdale after storms identified, being released from hospital

A battalion chief who was shocked by a downed power line in Archdale after the storms on Wednesday is being released from the hospital today (Thursday). A tree fell on a mobile home in the 6200 block of Old Mendenhall Road and also knocked down power lines. The firefighter, identified as Joey Layne, got too close to the power lines and was shocked, according to Guil-Rand Fire Department Battalion Chief Scott Ford. He was taken away by ambulance and is in stable condition. He remained in High Point Hospital overnight and was expected to be released today.
WGHP-TV FOX 8

Raleigh 911 Board awarded $3.9 million grant for 911 system upgrades

North Carolina has been awarded a $3.9 million federal grant to upgrade and enhance 911 systems across the state, N.C. Department of Information Technology Secretary and State CIO Eric Boyette announced today. North Carolina is one of 34 states and two tribal nations receiving grants from the $109 million 911 Grant Program. The grant, awarded by the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Transportation, will support the N.C. 911 Board’s current implementation of E-911 and NextGen 911 services, migrate to an IP-enabled emergency network and train 911 staff and first responders in this new technology. E-911 allows first responders to receive a wireless caller’s precise location, give or take 80 yards. NextGen 911 allows for first responders to receive photos, videos and text messages, in addition to voice calls.
The McDowell News

Kannapolis man charged with first-degree arson

Kannapolis police and fire department have determined that a recent fire on Rosemont Avenue was intentionally set. Marvin Johnson, 55, of Kannapolis has been charged with first-degree arson and is in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $100,000 bond. Police confirmed that two people were inside the structure at the time of the fire and both sustained injuries. One person was treated and released at a local medical facility. The second person was transported to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center for evaluation and treatment. This investigation remains on-going.
WBTV CBS 3