The All-New FireNews.net is Now Available

RALEIGH – We are pleased to announce that the all-new FireNews.net is now on-line.

FireNews.net was started in May of 2003. Here’s what the first version of the site looked like (below right).

It was all hand-coded html, and actually ran under the carolinasfirepage.com domain for quite a while.

(click several times to enlarge the images)

In 2004, we acquired the domain “FireNews.net” and moved the site to its own server. With a year under our belt, we underwent a re-design that resulted in a center column design flanked by regular content on either side. Again, all hand-coded and as you can see, jam packed with content. And really, really, really long. Lots of scrolling required (below, right).

In the Spring of 2008, we began preparation for the biggest change on the site to date. We moved to a “Content Management System” (CMS), which allowed more flexibility and control over publishing the site.

What this means for you, the regular reader:

• Better searching.
• Better SEO (search engine optimization), which means higher rankings for the site with search engines, and again, better searching for you.
• Simply put, more wonderful white space. No need to crowd things.
• Articles presented in logical categories, which are then archived and searchable.
• The ability to “tag” articles with major identifiers, such as location, agency, incident, etc. As use of the tags proliferates, you’ll be able to see all of the articles from your county, agency, or by incident type.
• Simplified and consistent navigation (at the top), and full navigation (in the footer) of all pages.
• As many ways to get in touch with us as you can imagine, including on-line chat.
• Better management of our advertising space.
• Social media integration with the existing big boys (Facebook, Twitter) and room to incorporate the next “big thing”.
• The ability to easily “Like” an article, retweet it, print or email it.
• A real-time chat application with Carolinas Fire Page Dispatchers and FireNews.net Editors.
• A large-scale Fire Buying Guide (Business Directory). Businesses that sell their products and services in North Carolina can list their info; purchasers will have a new place to do research.
• A Classified ads area, to list miscellaneous equipment for sale.
• Dynamically controlled Site Map to aid in searching and navigation.
• An all-new homepage, with more photos, better organization, and the ability to rapidly scroll through the latest articles at the top.
• Better integration and presentation of “Breaking News” on the homepage.
• New areas to list Announcements and Events.
• Better designed typography.
• An easy to access and post commenting system, with optional posting directly to your Facebook page (and news feed).
• The ability to scan article content by reading the “Article Highlights” that appears just to the left of the start of an article.
• We will be publishing our own Commentator areas (I really hate the word “blog”), featuring fire service leaders from around our great state.
• Speaking of blogs, if you like to read your content “like a blog”, you’ll be able to do so here.
• And finally, more photography and bigger photos.

We hope you like the changes we have made. Of course, feel free to comment below.

If the site is a little different that what you are used to, just give it a chance. We also apologize for the slim postings of late, and now that this new site is on-line, we’ll resume more regular updates.

And don’t forget, we always encourage you, North Carolina’s Bravest, to contribute content from your area. Here’s how.

Thanks for your patience and enjoy.

- Jeff Harkey, Editor in Chief