New York City Fire Stations

Fire stations are a familiar sight in cities and towns throughout the world. They are often associated with a specific neighborhood and are home to a variety of fire apparatus, including trucks and ladders, as well as other emergency equipment. They also serve as fire prevention education centers and provide emergency medical services for citizens who are sick or injured.

Historically, firefighting was a volunteer profession until the 1870s when New York City became an incorporated municipality and the paid fire department was established. As the City grew and developed, many fire stations were built with neo-classical details, reflecting the ideals of the City Beautiful movement. Today, many firehouses are still active, and the FDNY maintains a fleet of over 60 stations across the five boroughs.

Each firehouse is home to one to three fire companies. Each company is led by a captain, who oversees several lieutenants and twelve to twenty firefighters. Firefighters work a 24-hour shift, and receive three days off each week. Besides regular firefighting duties, the City’s firefighters are trained to assist in technical rescue and hazardous materials mitigation. They are also trained to assist in EMS operations and have a number of ambulances stationed throughout the City for dispatch calls.

There are four ways that fires and emergencies can be reported to the FDNY: telephone alarms; fire alarm boxes; “class 3” alarms (the most serious type of call) and verbal alarms. Telephone and fire alarm box alarms are reported to the FDNY’s central command center, while “class 3” and verbal alarms are directly reported to individual fire companies.

The FDNY responds to more than 70,000 emergency calls each year. Approximately half are fires; the rest are incidents that require emergency medical or hazardous material mitigation. Firefighters are supported by a highly skilled administrative staff and the latest firefighting and fire safety technology. In addition to firefighting, the FDNY provides technical rescue, hazardous materials mitigation, and emergency medical service with the aid of over 1200 emergency medical technicians and paramedics.

A typical fire station contains office space for the members of the local fire company and may have a library of reference materials, as well as a trophy wall or case where members display memorabilia. In addition to daily maintenance and training, firehouses host fire prevention education and other community events. Firefighters are also available for public tours, which are usually offered at night (6 p.m. – 9 a.m).

Located in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood, Firehouse 14 was used for exterior shots in the 1984 film Ghostbusters. It is also the site of a memorial to the firefighters killed on 9/11, and was selected as the set for the film because of its historic significance. FDNY firefighters were happy to be a part of this classic piece of American cinema history, and they were especially proud that the film’s writer, director, and star Dan Aykroyd chose to build a set at their own firehouse. In fact, the FDNY’s firefighters have been featured in many films and TV shows over the years.