10/16/2026
From our historian...
Back to the fair and a picture of the State Fair Fire Brigade in October 1979. Shown are N.C. State Fair director Art Pitzer, Earl Coley, and Raleigh firefighters Judd Stephenson, Paul Averette, and Jimmy Warren. We've shared this picture before.
Reported a story in the Tar Heel Firefighter in October 1981, the fire brigade was established after a tent fire in 1965[1]. It was a joint effort of fair officials and the Raleigh Fire Department to "conduct continuous inspections on all 700 booths, exhibits, eating establishments, trailers, and other units at the fair."
At that time, "officials established 24-hour fire protection on the grounds of the fair." Said Raleigh Fire Chief Rufus Keith, they had at least one "pumping fire engine" manned by "trained fire personnel on the grounds."
Two firemen "working jointly with the health department, labor department, and other regulatory agencies" conducted inspections to ensure that "all units on the ground" had working fire extinguishers. They also alerted vendors of "possible fire hazards and remained on the scene" until the hazards were corrected.
Four firefighters were on duty from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., and two remained on site from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. Plus, RFD remained "on alert throughout the fair" to back up the brigade as needed.
[1] The fire occurred on September 29, 1965. The fair opened on October 11. The 4:00 a.m. blaze swept through a 315-foot stretch of stands. The public address system tower was also gutted. The Fairgrounds VFD responded with three trucks and 22 firefighters, after a highway patrolman reported the fire. Raleigh also sent a pumper and five men.
Before the brigade was created, RFD had provided on-site protection in the mid/late 1940s. Was likely just the auxiliary truck (e.g. mini pumper) and a couple of men. In 1947, "no fire crew [was] planned" reported the local paper. There was both a shortage of men and the auxiliary truck had been totaled in a wreck.
The State Fair Fire Brigade operated until 2005. By that time, the brigade was a contract service using off-duty career firefighters--mostly from Raleigh, mostly older/seasoned members--plus apparatus donated by vendors.
They worked from the week before opening--during set-up--and through one or two days after closing. Their base was a mobile home that was loaned. They also had pair of golf carts, which carried basic EMS supplies and fire extinguishers.
That year, Western Wake Fire Rescue was also co-contracted as a provider. In 2006, they became the sole contracted provider. [ Though they had been co-located on site since the department was created in 1998. ]
They're still serving today, providing fire and first responder services each year.
See comments for links to more history.
