Fire Stations

Fire stations are buildings where fire engines and other equipment are stored and maintained. They may also house offices, living quarters, and training facilities. Some fire departments are fully professional; others are composed of volunteer or conscript firefighters in addition to paid employees. Firefighting is a dangerous and demanding profession, and fire stations are designed with safety in mind.

In the 19th century, urban areas began to establish fire departments as a civil service to the public. This forced many independent fire companies to merge with the city’s department. In 1833, ten independent fire brigades in London merged to form the London Fire Engine Establishment (LFEE). In addition to providing fire protection and rescue services, fire departments are responsible for administration, which includes supervision, budgets, policy, and human resources; service, which provides firefighting and rescue services; and operations, which manages the daily activities of the fire department and its personnel.

Some cities have a separate building for each fire company and vehicle, while others, such as New York City, have a single firehouse with rooms for multiple fire companies. Each fire company is commanded by an officer (lieutenant or captain) and is made up of four to five firefighters for engine companies, up to six for ladder companies, rescue companies, or squad companies, and up to eight for hazardous materials companies.

Each fire station is usually named after the primary fire company and apparatus housed there, such as Engine 16 or Ladder 49. Some are named based on the settlement, neighborhood or street where they’re located, and still others are assigned a number.

FDNY station numbers are listed on its Firehouse Listing page, and the corresponding firehouses can be accessed by clicking on a name on the map. The list is sorted alphabetically by the first letter of each company name, and by the city in which they’re located.

A firefighter’s home away from home is the fire station. When they’re called to an emergency, they leave their home and drive to the fire station, where they live while they’re on duty. They typically sleep at the fire station during the night, and are ready to depart for a call in as little time as possible.

Many fire stations have a hose tower, which is used for washing and drying fire hoses. In addition, some have bell towers and/or murals of famous battles fought by the fire department.

The fire department’s communication systems are integrated into the fire station, and include several ways of reporting emergencies. The most common method involves a civilian dialing either 9-1-1 or a special seven-digit telephone number published in each borough, which connects the person with the proper borough dispatch office.

The most important factor in a fire station’s design is ensuring that the various functions are separated from each other, and that firefighters have access to a clean space for maintaining their self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA). This requires good ventilation of industrial areas, such as the apparatus bay, and ensures that the SCBA is kept contaminant free. Another key consideration is to provide enough storage space for equipment and supplies, as well as a laundry room.