‘We just lost our house’: Ring camera video captures University City home go up in flames

VIDEO: The Charlotte Fire Department says that everyone is safe following a fire that destroyed part of a home in the University City area. The fire occurred around 11 p.m. Wednesday on Barclary Forest Drive in the Old Stone Crossing neighborhood. Channel 9's Almiya White spoke with a woman and her daughter, who said they were inside the home at the time of the fire. They said they felt lucky to have gotten out safely. Ring camera footage captured the moment the fire broke out, showing tall flames in the garage of the home. Multiple units from the Charlotte Fire Department, as well as the Harrisburg Fire Department, responded to the scene. They said it took over 30 firefighters to get it under control within 35 minutes. Officials said the fire did spread to other areas causing $170,000 in damages.
WSOC-TV ABC 9 Charlotte

Charlotte Fire deputy chief to retire after 35 years

The City of Charlotte announced that the Fire Deputy Chief with the Charlotte Fire Department will be retiring after 35 years. Chief Samuel Jones will be taking his final call for duty on Friday, Dec. 15. A native of Bluefield, West Virginia has been with the Charlotte Fire Department since 1989 when he started as a recruit with no experience. Jones quickly rose through the ranks as a firefighter and then to captain and battalion chief and he was promoted to Deputy Chief in 2018 by Fire Chief Reginald Johnson. He moved to Charlotte in 1986 and worked as a counselor. “Chief Jones has tremendous love for the department, retirees, and everyone working to meet the mission of Charlotte Fire,” Johnson said. “Chief Jones has spent over three decades in service to the residents of Charlotte and sets a high bar of excellence for many of us to follow.”
WBTV CBS 3 Charlotte

Ranlo firefighters prepare to dress up as Santa Claus, for the children

Ranlo Fire and Rescue recently announced they are in need of volunteers as the state of North Carolina has seen volunteer numbers decrease by nearly 5,000. Future Ranlo Fire and Rescue volunteers will protect the community, wear heavy flame-resistant equipment, and once per year, they will likely dress up like Santa. The department’s current volunteers will don red at 8 a.m. Saturday morning, Dec. 9, as they deliver candy to the children of Ranlo. The department’s annual Santa Ride became a tradition in 1976, nearly 50 years ago. In the early years of this tradition, volunteer firefighters at Ranlo Fire and Rescue would spend their afternoons in the weeks leading up to Christmas personally delivering a single candy cane to each child in the community, according to a press release from the department.
Gaston Gazette -Metered Site

Town of Huntersville to hire chief, 18 full-time firefighters

With 63,000 people and growing, the Town of Huntersville does not have full-time firefighters, instead the Huntersville Fire Department has operated as a nonprofit organization with part-time and volunteer firefighters. That is about to change, though, as the department is recruiting full-time firefighters that will be paid by the town. Earlier this week, the board of commissioners voted to add a town fire chief and 18 full-time firefighters. Nearly $305,000 will come from the town’s general fund, with another $1.1 million to come from grants and existing funds. The full-time firefighters will join the existing part-time and volunteer ones at the town’s existing fire stations. No positions will be eliminated. The reason behind the change comes down to staffing.
WBTV CBS 3 Charlotte

2 people killed in fire at Harnett County home

Two people died in a house fire in Harnett County. The fire sparked Tuesday morning at a home on Atkins Place Circle south of Fuquay-Varina. Chopper 11 flew over the house to see multiple fire trucks and other first responders surrounding the home. Investigators have not released any details about how the fire started, but ABC11 can confirm that two people died in the fire. Angier Black River Fire Department was the agency in charge of the initial response. Firefighters with that department pulled two people out of the burning home around 10 a.m. Both of them were pronounced dead at the scene.
WTVD-TV ABC 11 Durham

Leland Fire/Rescue crews respond to chemical leak at business

Leland Fire/Rescue crews responded to the scene of a small chemical leak at a local business at around 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 6. Per the LFR, crews evacuated the business at 2271 Andrew Jackson Highway, and hazmat crews are working to contain the leak as of 10:35 a.m. The leak is at a facility for Aprinnova, a company that provides ingredients for cosmetics. Nobody was injured and there isn’t a threat to the public or environment, according to the LFR. “North Carolina Emergency Management, Brunswick County Emergency Management, a North Carolina regional response team from Wilmington, Brunswick County EMS, and the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office are also responding,” an LFR announcement states.
WECT-TV NBC 6 Wilmington

No injuries reported following Oak Island fire that destroyed home

Crews responded to a structure fire Wednesday morning, Dec. 6, on Oak Island. According to a representative with the town, crews were dispatched just after 5 a.m. to the 100 block of NE 37th Street. “Crews arrived within 5 minutes of being dispatched to find the home fully engulfed in fire. Within approximately 45 minutes crews were able to extinguish the fire, minimizing further damage to surrounding homes,” a release from the town states. There was one person inside the home, but they were able to escape without serious injury. The house, as well as a RV and car, are considered total losses. A neighboring home was also damaged by the flames. The fire is under investigation, but authorities do not suspect foul play at this time.
WECT-TV NBC 6 Wilmington