Fire Stations

A fire station (also called a fire hall, firemen’s hall or fire house) is a building where firefighters and their equipment are stored. Many of these buildings also have working and living spaces for the full-time firefighters who work there. Fire stations often have offices and libraries for firemen to use, as well as a “trophy wall” where firefighters display their memorabilia from fighting fires and other accomplishments.

A typical firehouse will have multiple cabs, each with two engines and one or more ladder trucks, in addition to various other pieces of firefighting equipment. Most fire departments provide a range of other emergency services as well, such as search and rescue, hazardous materials response, technical rescue and wildland firefighting. Fire departments may be operated by government agencies or by private organizations. The most common organization is a municipal fire department. This is a public service agency that provides both fire and ambulance services to the residents of its city or town. Other fire departments are private organizations that only provide fire services.

In the United States, a fire department is usually run by a professional chief officer and a civilian staff who oversee administration and training. Fire department personnel may be paid employees or volunteer citizens. Some cities, such as Syracuse, New York, have combination fire departments, which employ both volunteer and paid firefighters.

The majority of the firefighters in a fire department are trained as emergency medical responders and are able to assist with medical emergencies. Firefighters are trained to treat patients for their injuries and illnesses until they can be transported to a hospital for further care.

In cities where a municipal fire department is operating, most firefighters will work in a crew of three to five people led by a captain. The firehouse will have office space for the company’s leaders, a library of reference books and other materials and a “trophy wall” to display the firefighters’ awards and achievements.

Besides housing fire trucks and other vehicles, some fire stations are used as community gathering places. They can hold meetings for local organizations and provide public safety education. They are also used for fund-raising by the firefighter’s association, “fire buffs” or “fire auxiliary”.

There are six types of fire companies in New York City: 197 engine companies, 143 ladder (or truck) companies, four rescue companies, eight squad companies, three marine (or fireboat) companies and a hazardous materials company. Each of these companies operate unique types of apparatus.

A fire department is also responsible for a number of administrative functions, including supervision, budgets, policy, human resources and training. In the United States, a fire department must also keep records of its activities and respond to complaints and other requests for assistance.

Firefighters will be alerted to an incident by either telephone or radio. Telephone alarms require the civilian calling the fire department to dial one of three types of numbers: 9-1-1, which is answered by New York City Police Department (NYPD) operators and then transferred to a borough dispatch office; a teleprinter number that will be answered by FDNY dispatchers who will send an appropriate unit to the scene; or a special seven-digit call box number that is published in each borough for the purpose of reporting fires.