Fire Stations

A fire station (also called a fire hall, fireman’s hall or engine house) is a building or other area for storing firefighting apparatuses such as fire engines and related vehicles, personal protective equipment, fire hoses and other specialized equipment. In addition, it is often where the firefighters work and live. A large city may have many fire stations, while smaller communities often only have one or two. In some areas, the fire stations are also used as community centers for activities such as fire prevention week and fund-raising for the “fire buffs”, or “firemen’s association”.

A modern fire station will usually have living quarters above the garage area where the vehicles and equipment are kept. In a crowded city such as New York, it is important that the firefighters can quickly get down to the vehicles and back up again when needed. To do so, they use a device known as a fireman’s pole, which is a long ladder that the firefighters can descend rapidly to avoid being trapped in the event of a fire. The pole was originally invented as a safer alternative to ropes that could break under the weight of the firemen and thus pose a hazard to them.

The fire station is typically manned by a group of career firefighters who are commanded by an officer, such as a lieutenant or captain. The staffing at a fire station can vary, but is usually made up of four to five firefighters for an engine company; eight firefighters for a ladder or rescue company or squad company; and six firefighters for a hazardous materials company.

Fire stations may also have an emergency medical services vehicle. The FDNY ambulances are equipped with basic life support (BLS) and advanced life support (ALS) personnel and can provide medical assistance to firefighters and the general public. In addition to ambulances, some fire stations are staffed with a Recuperation and Care (RAC) unit that can be dispatched as required for a major incident.

In addition to storing equipment, fire stations also carry out routine inspections and maintenance, training drills, and host community events such as fire prevention week and fund-raising. They may also be used for housing a volunteer fire department, such as a “firemen’s association”, or a community service organization, such as the American Red Cross.

While the modern firehouse is largely a practical and efficient design, some of the older ones were designed with neo-classical details to add an architectural feature to the neighborhood, as well as to fulfill their vital role. In Helsinki, Finland, the Erottaja fire station was designed by the city’s leading architect in the late 19th century, and is cited as the most beautiful in the country. It is characterized by ocular windows and a 138-foot central tower that draws comparisons with Giotto’s bell tower in Florence, Italy, and Berlin’s Red City Hall. In addition to a fire station, the design includes a training center and a workshop where firefighters can practice their skills.