Tag Archive for: #hendersonfiredepartment

HFD Boot Drive Nets $18,100.90 For Maria Parham Cancer Center

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Members of the Henderson Fire Department delivered a Christmas gift to Maria Parham Health’s Cancer Center staff on Wednesday – a giant check, both in size and amount.

The three-day boot drive held each year outside Central Station on Dabney Drive netted $18,100.90, all for the Cancer Center.

In presenting the check, Henderson Fire Chief Tim Twisdale said he and his colleagues are glad to be able to do something to provide for the care of others.

The boot drive was renamed in memory of the late chief Steve Cordell, who lost a brave battle with cancer in 2023.

MPH Social Worker Hope Breedlove thanked the fire department for the long partnership, now in at least its eighth year.

The money is used to help cancer patients who may struggle with paying for medications, transportation and other things that go along with getting life-saving treatment at the hospital.

“It’s really challenging to get them the things that they need,” she said, but the boot drive proceeds certainly help fill the gap.

MPH CEO Bert Beard said the fire personnel are critical first responders to get to residents in the city who may end up in the hospital to receive care. Beard said the passion that the cancer center staff shows when they serve patients is mirrored in the passion that firefighters show as they do their jobs each day.

“You guys are a part of our team,” he said.

Fire At Hardee’s Restaurant; No Injuries Reported

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Henderson firefighters were at the scene Friday afternoon of a fire at the Hardee’s restaurant on the corner of Dabney Drive and Old Oxford Road.

Reports from the scene indicate that the fire was visible for a time and could be seen along the roof line of the restaurant.

Local police closed roads in the area so firefighters’ hoses could be stretched across Oxford Road, but there were unofficial reports by 6 p.m. that the roads in the area had reopened.

WIZS spoke with a member of the restaurant staff on the scene who indicated that no one was hurt.

Our Scout Hughes of WIZS was at the scene after the fire had been extinguished and reported that the dining room portion of the building appeared to be unaffected by the fire.

Henderson Fire Chief Tim Twisdale told WIZS News Friday evening that the fire was concentrated in the broiler and most likely due to excessive grease accumulation.

Twisdale said, “The structure itself was not damaged but the broiler and suppression systems will have to be assessed/replaced, as well as the exhaust fan.”

He said company representatives estimate the restaurant will be closed for a couple of weeks to make necessary repairs.

 

The Local Skinny! Central Station Marks Fire Safety Week With Open House Oct. 9

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There’s just something about a shiny, red fire engine that kindles excitement, from young children to older folks who are still kids at heart. And on Thursday, Oct. 9, the community is invited to come take an up-close-and-personal look at Central Fire Station’s newest piece of equipment – Engine No. 1 – as part of an Open House in observance of Fire Safety Week.

But that’s not the only thing to enjoy, said Battalion Chief Lee Edmonds. There will be pizza, Edmonds said, along with other fire safety demonstrations during the 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. open house at Central Fire Station, located at 211 Dabney Dr.

You can learn how to properly use a fire extinguisher and learn techniques for safely exiting a burning structure in the “Smoke House,” a mobile training trailer that teaches how to get low and crawl in a smoke-filled space.

This year’s Fire Safety Week theme is “Charge into Fire Safety,” which Edmonds said puts an emphasis on those rechargeable lithium ion batteries that find their way into so many household items these days.

“You’d be surprised how much stuff in your house runs off lithium ion batteries,” he said, stressing the importance of their proper use and disposal. It’s important to buy, charge and recycle batteries safely, he said.

The fire station always welcomes visitors, but the Open House will provide opportunities for learning about safety and how to respond in case of an emergency.

Learn more about Fire Safety Week at https://www.nfpa.org/

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Henderson Fire Department; New Engine 1

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The Henderson Fire Department’s most recent purchase was officially recognized Friday afternoon during a “push-in” ceremony at Fire Station 1 on Dabney Drive. The shiny new Fire Engine 1 was ceremoniously backed into its bay, ready to go out on its first call.

During remarks at the 1 p.m. gathering, Fire Chief Tim Twisdale pointed out that there’s a memorial on the back door of the truck to remind firefighters and anyone else who sees it about the former fire chief, the late Steve Cordell.

The purchase was initiated by Cordell in September 2022. “We remember him as we put it officially in service,” Twisdale said.

It takes that long to get a truck like this one built, Twisdale said. “It’s a pretty big deal when we get to make a purchase like that. It should last for 20 years or more and the chief predicted that it would respond to 2,000 calls a year.

Audio of Chief Twisdale. Click Play!

The price tag? A staggering $763,000. But if he were to order the same thing today, that number would be somewhere around the $1 million mark.

“It’s a custom truck,” he said. “It’s built piece by piece from the frame rails to the lights and the final touches and polished pieces.”

Battalion Chiefs Lee Edmonds, Kyle Holtzman and Engineer Chase Carter put in a lot of hours researching the various components to make sure this truck would be equipped with the very best tools to make it the most efficient it can be.

“This one is built from the ground up,” Twisdale said. One component is the pump, which can handle 2,000 gallons, a capacity that helps the fire department keep its ISO rating of 2 – it all has to do with bringing people and water to a fire emergency within a certain amount of time.

This truck’s primary job “will be to respond to fires and emergency medical calls in the center of the city,” he said.

Twisdale said having this new truck added to the fleet will enable the city to be ready to house fire engines in a new station, if and when construction begins.

“We strive to stretch the dollars that we do receive as far as we can,” Twisdale said.

The Local Skinny! Boot Drive Aug. 29 To Support Steve Falkner Family

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The Henderson Fire Department is having a special boot drive Friday, Aug. 29 to show support for a longtime member of the city’s firefighter family.

Steve Falkner has been with the department for more than 40 years, and Fire Chief Tim Twisdale said this boot drive was organized to help Falkner’s infant grandson, who has spent most of his short life at Duke University Hospital with complications from congenital heart defects.

“We’re going to collect funds to show them some love and support,” Twisdale said on Thursday’s TownTalk. The boot drive will take place in front of Station 1 on Dabney Drive from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

According to Twisdale, the little fellow has been hospitalized “pretty much every day since he’s been born.”

His parents are both schoolteachers and live in Lake Waccamaw, in Columbus County.

“They’re public servants, just like Steve,” Twisdale said, and he said the boot drive is one way to show their support as the family goes through this tough time.

“That’s what we’re here for – to try to help everyone in the community…we try to be available for everyone,” Twisdale said.

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The Local Skinny! Trent Ayscue Retires From Henderson Fire Department

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The Henderson Fire Department was the place to be Friday as colleagues, family and friends paid tribute to Trent Ayscue, who retired after more than three decades of service.

Ayscue, who retired as a battalion chief, said he’d entertain the idea of coming back to work part-time after the required month of separation after retirement, and if he does, he was clear as to what he’d like to do:

“If I come back to work, it’s going to be as a firefighter,” Ayscue said, “to give back where I started. One hundred percent suppressing fire,” he said.

Former Fire Chief Danny Wilkerson called Ayscue a firefighter from the “old school,” and Ayscue agreed. He said that he and the late Steve Cordell started as volunteers at the Watkins Fire Department when they were 15 years old.

Fire Chief Tim Twisdale said he learned a lot from Ayscue, who already was in a leadership role when Twisdale joined the ranks in 2000.

In remarks to those gathered for a retirement celebration, Twisdale said Ayscue had “consistently and solidly put in service for the citizens of Henderson.” He also thanked Ayscue’s family for sharing him with the fire department.

“Thank you for your time, your love and your commitment to make us a better place,” Twisdale said. “We truly appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts.”

Being a firefighter requires passion, Ayscue said. “It’s a calling. You’re not going to get rich doing it. You have to have dedication…you have to be on your ‘A’ game every day.”

Twisdale said he and Ayscue have had the opportunity to team up as instructors at Vance-Granville Community College and to participate in live burn exercises, allowing them to take off the administrative hat for a bit.

“He and I still love to put that gear on and fight the fire ourselves, too,” Twisdale said.

He said Ayscue has been a good motivator for young firefighters, encouraging them to grow, learn and pick up on skills.

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TownTalk: Man Dies In Weekend House Fire On Reservoir Street

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A local man died in a house fire on Reservoir Street Sunday afternoon.

Henderson Fire Chief Tim Twisdale said firefighters were dispatched to 1418 Reservoir St. at 4:37 p.m. When they arrived, Twisdale said the whole left side of the house was engulfed in flames, and the remainder of the structure was filled with smoke.

Twisdale identified the victim as Robert J. Faucette, Jr., 63. County tax records list Faucette as the homeowner.

“We don’t know exactly how long it was burning prior to our arrival,” Twisdale told WIZS News Tuesday, “but it had gotten a good head of steam” by the time trucks arrived on the scene.

In fact, Twisdale said, firefighters reported seeing “a heavy column of smoke visible from a good distance away” as they made their way to the fire call.

One firefighter suffered burns to his ears, Twisdale said.

Officials have been in contact with the man’s sister, who is next-of-kin, and the medical examiner will perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Twisdale said the home did not appear to have a working smoke alarm.

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Henderson Fire Dept

Henderson Fire Dept. Honors Mills, Clark At Annual Banquet

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The Henderson Fire Department took time to honor individuals for outstanding service during its annual Fireman of the Year holiday banquet, held recently at Station 1.

Master Firefighter Charlie Mills was named the  2024 Fireman of the Year Award. Mills has been with Henderson Fire since 2020. He always goes above and beyond to help out a fellow co-worker and his positivity never wavers.

Engineer Trenton Clark received the Chief’s Award for dedication to his career. His passion for succeeding does not go unnoticed, reads the post on social media.

Warrenton Mayor Gardner Jr. was a guest speaker for the event. Gardner, owner of Warrenton Insurance Agency, also serves as Battalion Chief for Warrenton Rural Volunteer Fire Department.

Among the guests for the banquet were Henderson City Manager Terrell Blackmon and Council members Garry Daeke, Sam Seifert, Ola Thorpe-Cooper and Michael Venable.

 

TownTalk: MPH Cancer Center’s Angel Fund Gets $19K Infusion From Fire Dept.

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City of Henderson firefighters know that the next call they get could involve saving someone’s life. It’s what they train for.

For the past seven or eight years, however, the firefighters at Central Station One on Dabney Drive have taken to the street – literally – to help fight a different battle, one that can be just as deadly as a house fire or car crash.

Firefighters take to the busy street in front of the station to conduct their “fill the boot” campaign and donated all the proceeds to the Angel Fund at Maria Parham Health’s Cancer Center. This year’s three-day effort netted a whopping $19,611, which Chief Tim Twisdale presented to cancer center staff on Monday afternoon. In remarks to the group following the check presentation, Cancer Center Director Kimberly Smith remembered former Chief Steve Cordell, who lost his battle with cancer in January 2023. “This was always something special to him,” Smith said of the Angel Fund project. “So we decided we were going to name it the Steve Cordell Angel Fund moving forward.”

City Manager Terrell Blackmon said this is the second year that Cordell has not been a part of the check presentation. “He was a big, strong proponent of this effort,” Blackmon said.

Chief Twisdale presented the check to hospital staff, and said he hopes the tradition will continue. “It warms our hearts to be able to do this every year,” Twisdale said. “We count you guys as a big part of that blessing…taking care of us and the community.”

Thanks also go to all those who donated over the course of the three days of the campaign, Battalion Chief Lee Edmonds said later. None of it would be possible without community support, he said.

Those tall boots got filled while firefighters held up traffic with their singing, dancing, just having a good time to support a good cause, Twisdale said.

The coins and bills that added up to the more than $19,000 donation helps cancer patients with transportation, medicine, food and more, said MPH Social Worker Hope Breedlove.

“Transportation is a huge barrier to care,” Breedlove said, adding that the Angel Fund has provided 1,072 rides since mid-January 2024. That averages out to about 5 rides per treatment day.

One gentleman had to come to the clinic twice a week for treatment, and it wasn’t that he didn’t have a car – he simply was too sick to drive himself.

“A lot of good people come into the clinic – this is great to help them bridge the gap,” she said.

Heather Endecott is an RN who works in the clinic side of the cancer center. She said the Angel Fund, in addition to the transportation support, has helped provide oral chemotherapy to some patients for years, indicating that the much-needed medications are helping people get effective treatment and live longer lives.

The Angel Fund has helped 78 families with gas, 66 families with food and countless others get medicine.

“Medication is a big area that we spend a lot of time helping (with), life sustaining medicines, medicines to control their symptoms, medicines to keep them out of the hospital, medicines to keep them from having to call 911 in the middle of the night,” Smith said.

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TownTalk: Lee Edmonds – Fire Prevention Open House

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There’s just something about a fire truck that brings out the little kid in adults, and kids of all ages are invited to come to an Open House at Station #1 on Dabney Drive to see those shiny red marvels up close and personal.

Battalion Chief Lee Edmonds, who has been with Henderson Fire Department for about 10 years, said the fire trucks and free food are all part of a plan to encourage the community to come to the fire station to learn about more about fire safety and the importance of having smoke alarms – working smoke alarms – in their homes.

The Open House will take place on Oct. 9 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the station, located at 211 Dabney Drive.

The Open House is being held during Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 6-12). This year’s theme is “Smoke Alarms: Make Them Work For You.”

It’s a good idea to have smoke alarms inside every bedroom, Edmonds said, but also outside each bedroom as well.

“A lot of times, it’s not the fire, it’s the smoke that gets them first,” Edmonds said. Working smoke alarms give people time to get out safely if a fire breaks out; they don’t do much good at all if the battery is removed or if the device is removed altogether.

Edmonds reminds city residents that they can all the fire department at 252.430.1877 to request that fire offiicials come out and check their smoke alarms. “We offer that free service,” Edmonds said. “If it does not work, we will replace it, or replace the battery.”

If you live outside the city limits, Edmonds said he can connect you with a representative of county fire department or volunteer fire department to conduct a similar service.

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