Fire Stations

A fire station (also known as a fire hall, firemen’s hall or fireman’s station) is a building or other facility used to store firefighting equipment, such as fire engines, fire hoses and personal protective gear. Fire stations frequently also contain working and living space for firefighters and other staff. Firefighters typically respond to emergency calls from the fire station, and fire stations are often equipped with alarm systems that can be activated remotely in response to a call for help, or by manual activation by an individual.

In the United States, a firehouse is usually named for the primary fire company housed there, and some have been nicknamed after their locations, such as “Ladder 49.” Other names may be based on the settlement, neighborhood or street they are located in, and they are commonly identified by their number.

The fire department in the city of New York, one of the most populous cities in the world, is called the Fire Department of the City of New York or FDNY. It is the largest in the United States and is recognized as one of the most highly skilled. There are 218 firehouses in the FDNY, which are staffed by 6 distinct types of companies: engine companies, ladder companies, rescue companies, squad companies, marine (or fireboat) companies and hazardous materials (hazmat) companies.

Fire departments in other large cities are organized similarly to the FDNY, although some have more or less standardized names for their stations. Smaller towns in the United States, where fire service is provided by a volunteer department, generally refer to their local firehouses as halls or stations and are typically referred to by a name and number, such as “Hall 1.”

The City of New York’s fire departments receive their calls through four methods: telephone alarms; fire alarm boxes; class 3 (or non-working) alarms; and verbal alarms. Those who report an emergency or fire are usually asked to give information about the location of the fire, what type it is, how it began and whether people are trapped in it. Depending on the type of emergency, a firefighter or police officer may visit the scene to observe and determine how the situation is developing, and he or she may decide what actions should be taken.

A firehouse is also sometimes used as a community center, where activities and events are held for the public. For example, the FDNY’s state-of-the-art fire safety learning center, the FDNY Fire Zone, is open to children and families for demonstrations and hands-on exhibits. In addition, a firehouse might host community meetings and serve as the site of other municipal government functions. The FDNY Fire Zone was opened in 1974, and it features several refurbished antique fire vehicles. It is a popular destination for school children and the general public.