Friday, July 18, 2025

RFD Connections - July 18, 2025

πŸ“’ RFD Recent News

🎟 Gala Updates
Planning is coming along great! Committee says they have two sponsors paid already and another in the mix. Know anyone who’d be interested in sponsoring? Tell them to contact anyone on the Gala Committee for details! RFD tickets go on sale August 1, 2025! Get them before the price goes up on September 15! Also, Instagram and Facebook Socials are live! 

🧢 Blanket Sales
Missed your chance to order? Keep an eye on the newsletter for updates about the next round of blanket sales.

πŸ“˜ Yearbook Progress
Almost all the yearbooks have been delivered. Keri isn’t perfect and if you ordered one and haven’t received it, please contact her and she’ll get you squared away. Miss your opportunity to get one this time? Details for another opportunity to purchase are coming soon.


πŸ… RFD Sports Highlights

Our members aren’t just heroes on the job—they’re fierce competitors off the clock too. From the track to the rink, our crews continue to represent the Raleigh Fire Department with strength, speed, and sportsmanship.

πŸ’ Hockey

On July 26th RFD Hockey will travel to face off against our brothers/sisters of the Charlotte FD for the first time! Entry fee is $10 & kids under 10 get in free. Game starts at 4pm at the Extreme Ice Center in Indian Trail. All proceeds will be donated to the Children’s Burn Foundation.

Come out and support your team for a good cause!

This game is sponsored by Whiting-Turner. Thank you for your support!


πŸ€ Basketball




RFD Basketball has merch that will be here on 7/23/25!

Lay-Ups for Linda is hosting a Battle of the Badges event on Saturday August 23rd at the Davis Center in Wilmington. Teams playing this tournament are Leland Fire Dept, Leland Police Dept, Raleigh Fire Dept, Wilmington Fire Dept, Wilmington Police Dept. Get your tickets at WFD HQ or contact Nick Shepard at (910-553-0951! This year's Lay-Ups 4 Linda shirts are available for pre-order now until July 31st. If you would like to order, please Venmo @Leslie-Grimord and add the amount with your name, size/s and contact number. Shirts will be available for pick up at a location to be specified a couple days before tournament and at the event. Looking to have a shirt shipped to you please contact letgowithleslie@gmail.com. Please visit Linda’s fundraiser page for more information on this cause.

  

🀼 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

πŸš” Cops v/s Firefighters πŸš’. Saturday, October 4th at the Barwell Road Community Center in Raleigh. There will be action, merch, gym reps, and tons more! 

Make sure you mark the calendar πŸ“… for this banger of an event!
$50 Fighter Entry Fee. $10 for Spectators.
πŸ™ŒπŸΌ ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE 200 CLUB OF WAKE COUNTY.

We need your help! Are you interested in sponsoring an event? Contact us for more details.

 


πŸŽ‰ Celebrating RFD Family Milestones

We’ve got some big smiles and even bigger milestones to celebrate this month—let’s hear it for the wins, both big and small! πŸ₯³

πŸŽ– Promotions & Retirements

πŸŽ‰ Retirement
Please join us in honoring Senior Firefighter Jamie Gay, who officially retired on June 1, 2025. Thank you for your years of service and dedication!

πŸš’ Promotions
Effective July 26, 2025, the following personnel are promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. Congratulations on this well-earned next step!
  • Lt. Aaron Proctor
  • Lt. Brandon Strickland
  • Lt. Robbie Jones
  • Lt. Devin Woodall
  • Lt. Jordan Lamotta
  • Lt. Cullen Brown

We’re proud of each of you!


πŸ‘Ά New Tiny Turnouts! πŸ’—

πŸ’— Baby Earl has arrived!!! FCFF Collin Earl (Station 3A) and his family welcomed their healthy, new baby boy, Asher Cohen on June 10th at 9:48 pm. Both baby and Mama are doing well and hopefully getting some much-needed rest. Congratulations to the family! 

πŸ’— Exciting News from Station 22! We’re thrilled to announce that Caleb Smith (Station 22A) and his family have welcomed a brand-new recruit, Lindsey Smith πŸ₯³Born on July 4th (already showing patriotic spirit!), little Lindsey weighed in at 7lbs 7oz and measured 20 in long, a perfect fit for the Smith family lineup. Mom and baby are doing great, and Caleb is beaming with pride! Please join us in sending big congratulations to the Smith family! 

πŸ’— Congratulations go out to SFF Eric Godwin (Station 19B) and his wife Ashley on the birth of their son. Oliver Holmes Godwin was born July 6th at 10:35 pm, weighing 8 lbs. Everyone is doing well! Congratulations! πŸ₯³

πŸ’— We've got some exciting news to share! Please extend a heartfelt welcome to the newest member of the Poole crew, Savannah Lynn! Savannah made her grand entrance yesterday, tipping the scales at a perfect 7 pounds, 7 ounces. According to Captain Davis Poole (Station 1A), mom, baby, and her two burly big-brother bodyguards are all doing well. And as all you seasoned "girl dads" out there know, a baby girl has this magical ability to turn even the toughest of us into a pile of mush, making us do things we never thought possible. Get ready for glitter, tea parties, and endless attitude, Davis!

 


πŸ“… Looking for a year-at-a-glance RFD shift calendar? Look no further! 2025 & 2026 have been added to this site!

 


πŸ“¬ Want to be featured? Have a shoutout, milestone, or fun moment you'd love to see in the next issue? Send it our way—we’d love to share it with the RFD family.

 

 

 


RFD Events Calendar