Charlotte Fire Dept.

Current events and information from Charlotte Fire. Follow @charlottefd for incident-related information. In the event of an emergency please call 911.

[Charlotte Fire Dept. @charlottefire]

When the worst happens, the response you see is only part of the story.

Behind the scenes, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management is working to connect agencies, move resources, coordinate information and prepare for the kinds of incidents that can affect an entire community.

From severe weather and flooding to major events, infrastructure disruptions and long-term emergencies, the team helps make sure fire, law enforcement, transportation, healthcare, government and community partners are ready to work together when it matters most.

That preparation includes the Emergency Operations Center, public alerts, sheltering and mass care, training exercises, regional planning and specialized resources like Rehab 1 and the Mobile Command Center.

During National Emergency Management Awareness Month, we’re taking a closer look at the people, planning and partnerships behind that work, and why so much of emergency management happens long before the emergency begins.

Read the full story: https://t.co/WGrQp0VZG0

[Charlotte Fire Dept. @charlottefire]

Earlier today, 37 recruits walked through the doors to begin their Charlotte Fire careers. By the end of the day, the paperwork was giving way to something much more real: uniform fittings, learning what will be expected of them and getting their first taste of the road ahead.

There are a lot of days between showing up as a recruit and earning the title of Charlotte firefighter. For Classes 138 and 139, day one is now in the books.

The work begins.

[Charlotte Fire Dept. @charlottefire]

HOUSE BY HOUSE | BATTALION 8

As we continue taking you around Battalion 8, we made a special stop at Firehouse 41 today.

Representatives from @CLTAirport joined the Firehouse 41 crew to present a retired Runway 36L-18R sign in recognition of the partnership that helps keep the airfield operating safely and efficiently.

As CLT prepares for the addition of a fourth parallel runway, runway designations on the west side of the airfield are being updated. That means the 36L-18R designation is being retired, giving this sign a new home and a place in Firehouse 41 history.

For the firefighters assigned to Battalion 8, the airport is more than part of their response area. Charlotte Fire and CLT work side by side every day to protect passengers, employees, aircraft and the infrastructure that keeps one of the nation’s busiest airports moving.

A pretty fitting piece of airport history for the firehouse helping protect it.

House by House continues through Battalion 8.

[Charlotte Fire Dept. @charlottefire]

Charlotte, you showed up! Thousands of school supplies donated so far and, Charlotte firefighters delivered your donations to @classrmcentral Classroom Central, where they’ll help local students get the tools they need in the classroom.

But we’re not done yet. @wsoctv 9 School Tools donations continue at Charlotte Fire firehouses through August 31.

Thank you for giving, Charlotte. Let’s keep filling those barrels!

[Charlotte Fire Dept. @charlottefire]

Before most of Charlotte is even awake, Recruit Class 137 is already putting in the work.

Early mornings and hard workouts are part of building the strength, endurance and discipline they’ll need throughout the academy and beyond. It’s another day of pushing limits, raising the standard and getting better together.

Recruit Class 137 keeps moving forward, one workout at a time.

[Charlotte Fire Dept. @charlottefire]

This is how Charlotte Fire trains.

From the air to the fireground, Charlotte Fire companies came together for a controlled live-burn training exercise designed to keep skills sharp and crews ready for the challenges they face across our city.

Working through controlled live fire, smoke and changing conditions gives our firefighters the opportunity to train together, strengthen company operations and build on the skills they rely on when it matters most.

From the drone overhead to our cameras on the ground, this is Charlotte Fire training in action.

[Charlotte Fire Dept. @charlottefire]

Big events require a lot of planning behind the scenes.

With an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 people expected in Uptown this weekend, Charlotte Fire’s Special Events crews will be on scene providing dedicated EMT coverage and fire protection throughout the event footprint.

Captain Brian Benson explains how crews are positioned to quickly reach patients, respond to heat-related emergencies and handle fire concerns when crowds and road closures can make access more challenging. Charlotte Fire’s Police Assistance Company teams will also be on scene working alongside law enforcement as part of the coordinated public safety response.

[Charlotte Fire Dept. @charlottefire]

Rescue 10 and Rescue 11 are leading hands-on vehicle extrication training for Charlotte Fire ladder companies, giving crews the opportunity to work through different techniques, tool placement and methods for creating space during complex rescues. It’s practical, real-world training designed to build confidence with the tools and strengthen the skills our ladder companies may need when seconds and inches matter.

[Charlotte Fire Dept. @charlottefire]

Erika Hansen is officially a Charlotte Fire Captain. Her path to this moment began on an ambulance in South Carolina, where a desire to help people first led her into emergency service. In 2017, she brought that drive to Charlotte Fire as part of Recruit Class 105. We’re excited to see where Captain Hansen’s leadership takes her next.

[Charlotte Fire Dept. @charlottefire]

Congratulations to Tom Cichocki on his promotion to Captain. Tom’s fire service journey started at just 19 years old as a volunteer firefighter with Cornelius Fire Department before he joined Charlotte Fire in 2018. Today, all that experience, hard work, and commitment to the job has brought him to this next chapter. We’re proud to see Captain Cichocki step into this new role and continue serving the Queen City.

[Charlotte Fire Dept. @charlottefire]

One month from today, our nation will mark 25 years since September 11, 2001.

For Charlotte Fire Marshal Kevin Miller, Sept. 11 is not simply a date in history. He was an FDNY firefighter who responded to Ground Zero that morning.

Miller arrived between the collapse of the two World Trade Center towers. He remembers the streets covered in gray ash, office paper floating through the air and, after the second tower fell, an overwhelming silence.

Then he and other firefighters walked back toward the devastation.

They dug by hand. They formed lines across mountains of debris. They kept working because, in those first hours, they believed that if they kept digging, they would find people alive.

All the while, Miller’s wife and two young sons had no way of knowing whether he had survived. He was finally able to call home the next morning, Sept. 12, his wife’s birthday.

Twenty-five years later, Miller still carries the people, the loss and the lessons of that week with him. It shaped the firefighter he became, the leader he is today and his understanding of what courage truly looks like.

“Real heroism is knowing that you’re afraid to go into these buildings that could potentially collapse, and you still go,” Miller said. “You still do it.”

Read Miller’s story: https://t.co/6bdJHjPE95

And as we remember 25 years later, we invite our community to climb with us. The 2026 Charlotte 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb is open to the public Saturday, Sept. 12, at Bank of America Tower in Uptown Charlotte. Join Charlotte Fire and our partners as we climb in remembrance of the lives lost, sacrifices made and families forever changed.

Register to climb: https://t.co/GVsaR3NawR

[Charlotte Fire Dept. @charlottefire]

Ever wonder what really happens after the fire truck leaves the firehouse?

Now's your chance to find out.

Applications are open for the 2026 Charlotte Fire Citizen Fire Academy, an eight-week experience that takes you behind the scenes of one of the busiest fire departments in the country. Meet the firefighters, tour specialized units, visit the Training Academy, learn about emergency operations, and take part in hands-on activities that give you a better understanding of the work Charlotte Fire does every day.

The free program begins Thursday, September 10, and meets weekly from 6 to 8 p.m. It's open to Charlotte residents who are 18 years of age or older.

Space is limited, so don't wait.

Apply today: https://t.co/EYf5OoHKJs

[Charlotte Fire Dept. @charlottefire]

We see our community at its best every day.

Now we're asking for your help before the school bell rings.

Charlotte Fire firehouses are once again serving as collection points for @wsoctv 9 School Tools, making it easy to donate new school supplies while you're out running errands. Every donation stays local and is distributed by @classrmcentral Classroom Central to teachers who identify the students who need them most.

Whether it's a pack of pencils, notebooks, folders or crayons, every item helps a child start the school year with the same opportunity to succeed.

Stop by any Charlotte Fire firehouse through August 31 and help fill a classroom with possibility.

[Charlotte Fire Dept. @charlottefire]

National Night Out gave Charlotte firefighters the chance to spend time with the people who make the Queen City feel like home.

Across Charlotte, our crews shared laughs, heard stories, met new neighbors and reconnected with familiar faces. These moments may be simple, but they are what community is all about.

We are Charlotte Fire.

[Charlotte Fire Dept. @charlottefire]

A man had no pulse. Charlotte Fire Battalion Chief John Lipcsak began CPR and helped give him another chance at life.

Lipcsak was having dinner with his wife and daughters in Virginia Beach when he learned someone outside was experiencing a medical emergency. He found the man unresponsive, cold and clammy, and immediately started chest compressions.

After an AED delivered a shock, Lipcsak continued CPR until Virginia Beach first responders took over. Before the man was placed in the ambulance, his pulse had returned.

The man survived and is expected to be released from the hospital this week.

“You always try to make a difference in someone’s life,” Lipcsak said. “I did what I had to do.”

His wife and daughters had heard stories about his work for years. This time, they watched him help save a life.

Read the full story: https://t.co/URIQ9mkiLk

[Charlotte Fire Dept. @charlottefire]

Winner, winner, Charlotte Fire takes the ballgame.

Charlotte Fire edged out CMPD 14-13 in a hard-fought matchup to kick off National Night Out. The game was organized by Knothole, which works to expand youth access and diversity in baseball.

It was close. It was competitive. And when the final run crossed the plate, Charlotte Fire came out on top.

[Charlotte Fire Dept. @charlottefire]

It’s hard to think of a better way to end the week.

Charlotte firefighters rescued two dogs from a house fire this afternoon after finding them inside while their owner was away. Safe, happy and more than ready to see some friendly faces, the pups greeted their rescuers with plenty of excitement.

Calls like these are a reminder that our firefighters are there for every member of the family. Wishing everyone a safe and joyful weekend.

[Charlotte Fire Dept. @charlottefire]

When the call comes for the unthinkable, there is no time to figure it out. That is why Charlotte Fire trains before an emergency happens.

Our firefighters are in the middle of months-long Mass Casualty Incident training at the Charlotte Fire Training Academy, preparing to manage multiple patients, make critical decisions under pressure and work together when every second matters.

Every Charlotte firefighter is a certified EMT, and medical emergencies make up the majority of our calls.

We hope these skills are never needed on this scale. But if Charlotte needs us, we will be ready.

[Charlotte Fire Dept. @charlottefire]

Firefighter Nate Powell never expected recognition for sharing his family’s autism journey. He simply wanted other families to know they were not alone.

That decision grew into advocacy, community support and a fundraiser that generated nearly $13,000 to provide communication devices and adaptive resources for children on the autism spectrum.

The Rotary Club of North Charlotte has now presented Powell with its 44th annual Community Service Above Self Award and named him a Paul Harris Fellow.

“Nate represents the very best of Charlotte Fire,” Fire Chief @RegE_TJohnson said. “His humility, compassion and commitment to serving others extend far beyond his work on Engine 42.”

Powell accepted the recognition surrounded by his Firehouse 42 family, crediting his fellow firefighters for supporting him every step of the way.
Read the full story: https://t.co/6G3QUq6LPB

[Charlotte Fire Dept. @charlottefire]

As you shop for your own kids this back-to-school season, consider picking up one extra item for a child in need.

An extra pack of pencils. A notebook. Crayons. Loose-leaf paper. Small donations like these can make a big difference for students whose families are struggling to afford school supplies.

Charlotte Fire is proud to partner with @wsoctv and @classrmcentral for the 9 School Tools school supply drive. Donations collected at more than 40 Charlotte Fire firehouses will be distributed by Classroom Central to local teachers, who identify the students in their classrooms who need them most.

Dropping off a donation is easy. The next time you’re at the store, grab one extra school supply item and leave it at your neighborhood Charlotte Fire firehouse.

Together, we can help every child start the school year ready to learn.