Fire Stations

A fire station (also called a fire hall, fire house or firemen’s hall) is the location to which firefighting equipment and personnel report before being dispatched into the community for emergency response. It may also provide combined firefighting and emergency medical services operations. It may contain living and working space for firefighters and their support staff. It may also have a garage for housing at least one fire engine and other vehicles.

The structure’s appearance varies widely, but most have tall narrow towers, sometimes with a clock, bell or fire lookout, which are referred to as hose towers, for the purpose of cleaning and drying the hoses of the fire trucks. The buildings are usually painted in bright, reflective colors and the doors are often painted red to warn motorists of the presence of fire engines at the fire station.

Many fire stations are occupied full time by career firefighters. These stations will have living quarters with beds for the firefighters to sleep during a shift, while they wait for an emergency call to be received. Some are staffed by volunteer fire companies. These will have their own “firemen’s association” or “fire buffs” and raise funds for the company through fundraising activities. These companies will work side by side with the career firefighters at fires and other emergencies under a common chain of command and set of operating procedures.

Fire stations are generally named after the primary fire apparatus and company that resides there, such as Engine Co. 10, or for a settlement, neighborhood or street, such as Brooklyn Avenue. They are sometimes also designated by their address, such as Station 17. Some have combination buildings that include both a fire department headquarters and an apparatus maintenance facility. Others are simply named after the fire department’s headquarters, such as FDNY Headquarters.

In addition to storing firefighting apparatus, fire stations are also used as meeting locations for fire departments and their auxiliary organizations. They are also a central point in the delivery of fire prevention and public education programs. They are also used as recruiting centers for the fire service. They are often the scene of community activities such as parades and picnics, and are open to the public for tours. Many fire departments also have websites that offer more detailed information about their stations.