Charlotte Fire’s Police Assist Companies are trained to operate alongside law enforcement in some of the most complex environments our firefighters may face. During a recent training day with CMPD, crews worked through scenarios involving patient rescue, fire protection, coordinated movement and the use of specialized equipment while operating in a tactical environment. Battalion Chief Derek Parks takes us inside the training and explains how these firefighters prepare to provide the same core services Charlotte Fire delivers every day, while adapting to situations that require a much different approach. The day also gave Charlotte Fire and CMPD personnel the opportunity to learn more about each other’s equipment, tactics and capabilities, strengthening the coordination that becomes critical when both agencies are called to the same emergency. A big thank you to @CMPD for working alongside our crews and helping make this training possible.

20.5 miles of fire hose. And we're not finished yet. That's how much hose Charlotte firefighters have stretched during fall in-service training, with more than 130,000 feet expected before it's over. From intense live-fire exercises to searching for victims in smoke-filled conditions, our firefighters are putting in the work to be ready when it matters most. As Capt. Jason Jefferies puts it, the goal is simple: “Be brilliant at the basics.” Go behind the scenes of the training preparing Charlotte firefighters for their next emergency. Read the full story: bit.ly/4kgdEyK

Take a ride back in time with Charlotte Fire! The unmistakable long nose, the history and nearly 70 years of Charlotte Fire memories rolling down the road. Deputy Chief “Sparky” Richardson takes us for a nostalgic ride aboard our 1958 Seagrave fire engine, affectionately known as the “Long Nose.” Originally placed in service as Engine 11, this iconic piece of Charlotte Fire history served generations of firefighters, responded to countless emergencies and even made an unexpected return to duty in 1997, nearly 40 years after its first call. For those who remember seeing these engines rolling through Charlotte’s neighborhoods, this one is sure to bring back some memories. Climb aboard and enjoy a ride through Charlotte Fire history!

From the tone to the pole to the streets of Charlotte. When the call comes in, Charlotte Fire is ready to roll. A quick POV look at what happens when duty calls.

Bad to the Bone. Brilliant at the Basics. Charlotte Fire is turning up the heat during fall in-service training. From stretching attack lines to searching for victims in live-fire conditions, every company is putting in the work, sharpening their skills and building mastery through repetition. Because when it's the real deal, every rep counts.

Finding turnout gear for a 6-foot-5, 330-pound NFL defensive tackle isn't exactly an everyday request for Charlotte Fire, but we made it happen! Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Derrick Brown, No. 95, traded his football gear for Charlotte Fire turnout gear today at Firehouse 11, joining our Rescue 11 and Engine 11 crews for a hands-on vehicle extrication demonstration. And we've got to give him credit. He handled the powerful Jaws of Life equipment impressively well, getting a firsthand look at the strength, skill and precision firefighters use to rescue people trapped in vehicles. But behind the excitement was an important message. During National Teen Driver Safety Week, we're reminding young drivers that the decisions they make behind the wheel can have life-changing consequences. Our firefighters see those consequences firsthand, and preventing crashes is always better than responding to them. A big thank you to USAA for bringing this event together, to Derrick Brown for stepping into our world for a morning, and to our Rescue 11 and Engine 11 crews for helping make today's demonstration a success.

More than two decades of experience, leadership, and commitment have led to this moment. Justin Miller has been promoted to Battalion Chief. Chief Miller joined Charlotte Fire in 2003 at just 19 years old and has spent his career developing firefighters, strengthening crews, and helping prepare our members for the challenges of the job. Congratulations to Battalion Chief Justin Miller on this well-earned promotion and the next chapter of his Charlotte Fire career.

The Making of a Champion, The Legacy of a Captain Twenty-nine years. Twelve world championships. More than two decades in Special Operations. A Hall of Fame induction. And a career that has left a lasting mark on Charlotte Fire. Captain David Bowman has accomplished things most firefighters can only dream of, but his greatest achievement may be the example he has set for those who have served alongside him and the people of the Queen City who have depended on him. A Charlotte native who joined Charlotte Fire in 1997, Bowman has spent nearly three decades answering emergencies, leading firefighters and pushing himself to extraordinary heights. Now, his remarkable career is being celebrated with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Through it all, Bowman has never lost sight of what matters most. “My job is to take somebody from a bad place to a good place.” Please join us in congratulating Captain David Bowman on this well-deserved honor and celebrating a career that continues to inspire. Read his remarkable story: bit.ly/CFDChamp

Behind every firefighter is a network of people working to make sure they have the support they need, and for Charlotte Fire, Leanne Decker has become one of those trusted people. Named Charlotte Fire’s Civilian of the Year, Decker has built her career around helping others, from customer service and payroll to human resources. Her story is about service, trust and the simple belief that when someone asks for help, you help them. Read more about Decker’s path to Charlotte Fire and the approach that has shaped her career: bit.ly/4hMQsoQ

What a moment for Charlotte Fire Recruit Class 137! Months of hard work, determination and sacrifice led to a celebration filled with pride as 27 recruits received their badges, took the oath of service and officially became Charlotte firefighters. Surrounded by family, friends and fellow firefighters, they celebrated the end of one incredible journey and the beginning of a career dedicated to protecting and serving the Queen City. Many have already reported for their first shifts, putting everything they’ve learned into action as the newest members of the Charlotte Fire family. Congratulations once again, Class 137! We’re proud of what you’ve accomplished and excited for everything that lies ahead.

For 25 years, Rahsarn “Rock” Jones served Charlotte with a deep sense of responsibility to the people and neighborhoods that helped shape him. His career was influenced early by Sept. 11, 2001, a day that made him confront the reality of the profession he was preparing to enter. Twenty-five years later, he chose Sept. 11 as the day to close that chapter of his life, surrounded by the people who helped him along the way. Now retired and honored as Charlotte Fire’s Firefighter of the Year, Jones reflects on the community he calls home, the difficult calls that stayed with him, the firefighters who guided him and the principle he tried to carry into every response: treat people like family. Read the story of Rahsarn “Rock” Jones and the legacy he leaves behind: bit.ly/CFDRock

Good food, a great cause and plenty of good times. Thank you to everyone who came out to The Market at 7th Street and supported Charlotte Fire’s pancake breakfast benefiting the Firefighters’ Burned Children Fund. We appreciate everyone who helped make the morning a success.

CHARLOTTE FIRE PREPARES FOR POTENTIAL HURRICANE DEPLOYMENT As the remnants of Hurricane Isaias bring heavy rain, strong winds and the threat of flooding to the Carolinas, 22 members of North Carolina Task Force 3 are preparing to answer the call if communities across the state need additional help. Led by Charlotte Fire Captain Jerry Rodgers, the team is assembling at the Charlotte Fire Operations Center, preparing personnel, specialized equipment and resources for a potential deployment. From swiftwater rescue teams and boats to urban search and rescue (USAR) and hazardous materials capabilities, the team is equipped to respond to a wide range of emergencies. The 22-member contingent also includes task force leadership, rescue team managers, planning personnel and technical information specialists who help coordinate complex rescue operations. With significant rainfall expected across western North Carolina and the potential for flash flooding in the mountains, preparation is critical. Every piece of equipment, every specialized role and every hour of training contributes to the team's ability to respond when called upon. No deployment has been ordered at this time, but these Charlotte Fire members are preparing to mobilize at a moment's notice. It's a commitment that extends well beyond the Queen City. When North Carolina communities need help, Charlotte Fire is ready to answer the call.

Congratulations, Recruit Class 137! Welcome to the Charlotte Fire family! This morning, 27 members of Recruit Class 137 proudly received their badges and took the oath to serve, marking the culmination of months of demanding training, determination and hard work. What began as a group of individuals with a shared goal has become a new generation of Charlotte firefighters, ready to carry forward the commitment to service that defines Charlotte Fire. For many, that commitment becomes a reality tomorrow as they report to their firehouses for their very first shift protecting and serving the Queen City. Please join us in congratulating the newest members of Charlotte Fire! Recruit Class 137 Graduates Maos Baldwin, Jr., Zachary Bauer, Ethan Clifford, Jesse Dittrich, Anthony Dressler, Dennis Duymaz, Hunter Goss, Bailey Gunter, Joshua Haston, Patrick Hogan, Denton Holt, Kyle Kovach, Carter Kovarik, Javier Marquez-Chavez, Jason Maschi, Austin Mitchell, Michael Newbery, Sammy Ostarello, Adam Phillips, Isaac Rieken, Matthew Rose, Brendan Ryan, Jr., Jayden Scott, Caroline Stowe, Dalton Sweat, Alexander Vander Kolk and Jesse Watts. Your journey through recruit school may be complete, but your career of serving others is just beginning. Congratulations, Class 137! The Queen City is counting on you, and we're proud to welcome you to the Charlotte Fire family.

There are moments in this job that change everything in a matter of seconds. On March 4, Charlotte Firefighter Jerome Taylor stood on a second-floor breezeway as a woman moved to the third floor above him. He could hear the urgency in the voices around him, but he could not yet see what was about to happen. Taylor says he heard the voice of God tell him to stay where he was and hold out his arms. He did. Moments later, the woman came over the third-floor railing and fell toward him. Taylor caught her, grabbed her by the belt, braced himself against the railing and pulled her back to safety before she could fall to the concrete below. The patient survived. Taylor’s actions that morning earned him Charlotte Fire’s Award for Bravery, but his story is about much more than an award. It is about faith, training, family and one firefighter being exactly where he needed to be when another person’s life depended on it. Read Jerome Taylor’s story:  bit.ly/CltBrave

Charlotte Fire mourns the loss of Durham Firefighter Andrew Brokes, who tragically died in the line of duty early Thursday morning, October 8, while searching for victims inside a burning building in Durham, North Carolina. Firefighter Brokes, 24, joined the Durham Fire Department in May 2025 and was assigned to Fire Station 13. He was among the firefighters battling a large structure fire on Marly Drive when crews became trapped inside the building. Despite rescue efforts, Brokes lost his life. Two additional firefighters were injured during the incident and have since been released from the hospital. Our hearts are with the Brokes family, the Durham Fire Department, and all those mourning this devastating loss. We stand alongside our fellow North Carolina firefighters as we honor Andrew's courage, dedication to service, and ultimate sacrifice.

A new chapter for Charlotte Fire is taking shape in the River District! Today, Oct. 8, we broke ground on the permanent Firehouse 44, marking another major investment in public safety as Charlotte continues to grow. The approximately 14,000-square-foot facility will make history as the first mass timber firehouse in the Southeast, featuring three apparatus bays and supporting both fire and rescue operations. Our Firehouse 44 firefighters are already serving this growing community from a temporary facility, but today's groundbreaking brings us one step closer to giving them a permanent home built to meet the needs of the River District for decades to come. Read the full story and see photos from the groundbreaking: bit.ly/CFHouse44

Congratulations to Brian Watts on his promotion to Captain. Since joining Charlotte Fire in 2018, he has built a career marked by versatility, preparation, and service across several areas of the department. We’re proud to celebrate Captain Watts as he steps into this next leadership role.

Charlotte Fire’s Police Assist Companies recently joined @CMPD for high-intensity training focused on how firefighters and law enforcement move, communicate and operate together in a tactical environment. The training included patient rescue, fire protection and coordinated movement designed to prepare both agencies for complex emergencies where they may need to work side by side.