Wilmington, NC Fire Department

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Wilmington, NC
Wilmington, NC Fire Department

The Wilmington Fire Department proudly serves the City of Wilmington, its residents, and visitors.

08/27/2026

Congratulations to Andrew Kotz on his promotion to Captain! 🎉

We’re proud to celebrate this well-deserved achievement and look forward to seeing his continued leadership at WFD. 🚒

08/26/2026

We love our partnership with paws4people foundation! 🐾❤

08/25/2026

Earlier this month, members of our Haz-Mat Team traveled to Raleigh to compete in the annual Haz-Mat Challenge at the SAFRE Conference.

Our team scored 99/100 points and came in second place! Congrats, guys! Job well done! 🙌

08/21/2026

TIME TO REMEMBER 💭

On this day in 1987, WFD Assistant Chief Harold Lee Sandlin died as a result of a natural gas leak that occurred earlier in the month.

Chief Sandlin responded to the large natural gas leak on August 5, 1987, on the 4500 block of Market Street. He and many others were injured when the leaking gas ignited.

Chief Sandlin was taken to the NC Memorial Hospital at the Chapel Hill Burn Center, where he passed away 16 days after the incident.

Chief Sandlin joined the department on October 15, 1942. He is buried in the Greenlawn Cemetery and is one of the fallen firefighters honored at the WFD Fallen Firefighters Memorial at the Empie Park Fire Station.

Today, and every day, may we take time to remember his sacrifice.

08/20/2026

That’s a wrap on another Battle of the Badges! Thank you to everyone who came out to donate. No matter who you voted for, you helped save lives today! We appreciate you! ❤️🩸🚒🚨

08/17/2026

We have responded to several vehicle crashes over the past couple of days. Please remember to slow down, stay alert, and make safe decisions behind the wheel. A few extra seconds of caution can make all the difference. Stay safe, Wilmington.❤️🚒

08/15/2026

🚒🩸 Battle of the Badges is back! 👮‍♂️🩸

Wilmington Fire Department and Wilmington Police Department are teaming up with the American Red Cross for a friendly competition to see who can bring in the most blood donors!

Join us Thursday, August 20, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Wilmington Blood Donation Center and help your local heroes save lives–one donation at a time. ❤️

The only battle where everyone wins!

08/14/2026

Putting in the work to be ready when it matters most.💪

08/05/2026

THIS INCIDENT FOREVER CHANGED THE WAY WE RESPOND

On this day in 1987, WFD responded to an incident that forced us to completely revamp the way we respond to natural gas incidents.

Shortly after 11 a.m. on August 5, 1987, a crew working to install sewer lines on Market Street noticed an odor of natural gas in the area. They also observed the pavement rising and dirt blowing up from underneath. The fire department and gas company were notified.

Engine 3 was on scene less than a minute after the alarm came out. The officer on scene asked for an additional company, and Engine 1 arrived on scene shortly thereafter. Battalion Chief B.F. Glisson was also there.

After the gas company arrived, they began working to access the leak. While digging, a gas company back hoe struck a water main, filling the hole with water. Assistant Chief Harold Lee Sandlin arrived on scene shortly after this happened. Water pumps were brought to scene to pump out the water to facilitate repairs to the gas line.

After being on scene for a few hours, a flash fire occurred, covering an area approximately 40 inches in diameter around the leak. Eighteen employees from the Fire Department, N.C. Natural Gas, and City of Wilmington Utilities department were injured. One passerby riding a bicycle was also injured.

Chief Sandlin succumbed to his injuries two weeks later at the UNC Burn Center in Chapel Hill. Other Fire Department personnel who were injured included BC Glisson, Lt. Larry Brown, Joey Gebbia, Nathan LeBlanc, and Capt. A.C. Shipman.

An investigative committee found a possibility of five ignition sources that could have caused the fire. They also had a list of actions that possibly contributed to the severity of the incident.

07/31/2026

Congrats to the graduates of this week’s WFD JFA! 🎉

Address

801 Market Street
Wilmington, NC
28401

Telephone

+19103417846

Website

http://www.wilmingtonnc.gov/fire

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