Neptune Fire Society

04/04/2026

We chose to start our morning by giving back and supporting the community, honored again for the opportunity to volunteer with Stolen Lunches and pack Give Blessing Bags! Such an amazing cause, we answered the call again to help pack bags filled with love and essential items such as nonperishable food items and hygiene products. Blessed to be a blessing! We look forward to volunteering again and again!

02/24/2026

Celebrating our own history makers for ! Today we honor and celebrate Retired Battalion Chief Sylivia Smith-Phifer! Chief Smith-Phifer, was the first Black woman to earn and achieve the ranks of Captain and Battalion Chief for the Charlotte Fire Department. Born and raised in Charlotte, Chief Phifer began her fire career in November 1992 with Recruit Class 40. Determined and possessing a “fire in her belly”, she was promoted to the rank of Captain in January 2002. Then after many battles with discrimination, she was promoted to the rank of Battalion Chief in May 2020.

Chief Smith-Phifer holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration – Finance from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She also holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. In 1997, she wrote and implemented the Hearing-Impaired Smoke Detector Program through a partnership with CFD and Programs for Accessible Living (PAL). Chief Smith-Phifer also served as a driving force as part of an 8-woman committee that launched Charlotte’s first all-girls fire camp, Camp Ignite. Camp Ignite serves as an opportunity for young girls to get a glimpse into the fire service, learn life skills, and build their confidence.

During Chief Smith-Phifer’s time with the Charlotte Fire Department, she endured and witnessed many injustices and discriminations. She took pride in being a full-time mom and in advocating for minorities in the fire service, not afraid to challenge a system that wasn’t built to support her nor any minorities in general. After 30 years of service Chief Smith-Phifer retired in January 2023.

02/20/2026

Celebrating our own history makers for ! Never expecting to be part of Black History, today we honor and celebrate Fire Chief Reginald T. Johnson. Born and raised in the DMV, Chief Johnson began his firefighting career with Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department in June of 1993. With no previous experience in the fire service, he was one of 24 others in the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Recruit Class 83. After nearly 18 years, Johnson had been promoted to Battalion Chief, and eventually became the Assistant Fire Chief of Operations in Fairfax County. In April 2018, Reginald T. Johnson was appointed as the first African American Chief of the Charlotte Fire Department.

Chief Johnson holds a Master of Science degree in Emergency Management and a Bachelor's degree in Management Studies, both from the University of Maryland University College (now known as University of Maryland Global Campus). He was an alternate on the NFPA 1710 Committee and has professional membership with the IAFC, Black Chief Officers Committee (BCOC), North Carolina State Firefighters' Association, NC Association of Fire Chiefs, IABPFF, and IAFF. He is a former President and Executive Board member of the Progressive Firefighters of Fairfax County organization. He currently serves as a Commissioner of the NC State Emergency Response Commission (SERC).

“In the fire service, I stand on the shoulders of my mentors and people that have blazed the trail before we’ve gotten there. They hadn’t reached the rank of Fire Chief. A lot of them just reached, just getting on the department,” Johnson said.

02/20/2026

Shop Neptune Apparel!!

02/16/2026

02/14/2026

Please join us in congratulating Neptune Member Rahragus "Rod" Wallace on his promotion to the rank of Battalion Chief! Wallace, a Charlotte native is a graduate of West Charlotte HS & North Carolina Central University. He has been with the Charlotte Fire Department since February of 2001, made Captain in 2013, and has served at stations 4, 8, 9, & 31. He also coaches the CFD basketball team, the Charlotte Blaze. Congratulations Battalion Chief Wallace!

02/13/2026

Celebrating our own history makers for ! Today we honor and celebrate Linda Lockhart. Linda Lockhart joined the Charlotte Fire Department on September 8, 1982, becoming Charlotte’s first black female firefighter and the second female on the department.

Although significantly smaller than most firefighters at 4’11”, and being a double minority, Linda was a force to be reckoned with. At the time, there were no gender-specific accommodations for women, having to use the same restrooms and dormitories as the men. Enduring discrimination, hostility, being ignored, and having to fend for herself, she never gave up. In fact, Linda Lockhart pushed for equality on the job. CFD ultimately incorporated separate accommodations for women (women’s locker rooms) and policies regarding family leave.

During her time as a firefighter and even after, Linda advocated, mentored, and fought injustice. She retired from the Charlotte Fire Department after 25 years of service on September 13, 2007. She returned to the CFD as an administrator, serving in the Logistics Division as the Storekeeper in 2010. She retired for the second time in 2017.

02/12/2026

Our very own!!!

02/11/2026

Celebrating our own history makers for ! Today we honor and celebrate Hazel Erwin! Before joining the Charlotte Fire department, Erwin was a firefighter with the United States Air Force. He fought fires at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro and later at Cam Ranh Bay in South Vietnam, where he served for a year. He received an honorable discharge on Christmas Day in 1966.

Erwin was hired by the Charlotte Fire Department on October 18, 1967 and assigned to Fire Station 1. Erwin was the man responsible for integrating the Charlotte Fire Department in the 1960s by being the FIRST Black firefighter in Charlotte.

“We’re not going to put this man out in the boondocks. He will be stationed on an engine company at Fire Station 1 and will have an equal chance in this department,” said Charlotte Fire Chief Jim Black in 1967.

Erwin resigned from Charlotte Fire on March 20, 1974.
He was a mentor, a man of integrity, a hard-worker, and known for spending time with family and friends, Charlotte Fire says.

Erwin’s family members said that he never wanted special recognition for breaking the color barrier.
“He just wanted to do what’s right,” Erwin’s family said.

Hazel Erwin lost his battle with cancer on May 8, 2022. His impact and legacy continues to live on!

02/09/2026

The Charlotte Fire Department formed in 1875, organized from the four volunteer departments serving the city: the Hornet Fire Company, the Pioneer Fire Company, the Independent Hook and Ladder Company and the African-American company known as The Neptunes.

One of the best known Neptune volunteers was Charles Samuel Lafayette Alexander Taylor, born in Charlotte in 1854.

Educated in a Quaker school, he was an accomplished musician, a dancing master, a shoemaker, and a barber. Colonel Taylor served as an Alderman on the City’s Board of Aldermen between 1885 and 1887. He served in the Charlotte Light Infantry, first as a Lieutenant and, after a year, was promoted to Captain. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the Third Regiment on June 23, 1898 and was known as Colonel Taylor from that time forth.

On May 12, 1891 the General Assembly of North Carolina ratified a charter for the North Carolina Colored Volunteer Firemen’s Association. Col. Taylor was soon taking a leadership role and served as Financial Secretary for a number of years before assuming the Presidency in the late 1920s. With all of the many duties of the different offices he held he still found time to be a dedicated member of the A.M.E. Church and served as choir director. He was a member of the Masons, an Elk and an Odd Fellow.

Lt. Col. Charles Taylor, an original Neptune volunteer is buried at the Elmwood Pinewood Cemetery in Charlotte.

02/07/2026

GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL ACTIVE CFD FIREFIGHTERS, SUPPORT STAFF, SPOUSES, AND RETIREES! YOU HAVE TO PRE-REGISTER! USE QR CODE!

April 20-24th! Charlotte Firefighters Association Local 660 and the Neptune Fire Society are partnering with United Diagnostic Services (UDS) to provide a comprehensive early-detection health screening. Fire fighter occupational cancer is the leading cause of line-of-duty death in the fire service. This screening will provide advanced diagnostic testing designed to identify early signs of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other serious health conditions. COST: $360 (HSA funds can be used)