The Importance of Well-Designed Fire Stations

Fire stations play a critical role in the community – they protect people and property from dangerous situations, provide public education and more. However, there are many things the general public doesn’t know about firefighters, including how important it is for them to engage with the local community through outreach programs and events.

A fire station (also known as a fire hall or a firehouse) is a building where firefighters and fire engines are stored when they’re not answering an emergency call. Many fire stations also have living areas, offices and other amenities for their full-time or part-time staff. Often, firefighters work 24 hour shifts and sleep at the station in dormitories, which are often located above the garages in two story buildings. When a call comes in, firefighters can access the engine using a pole, slide or stairs, depending on the type of fire.

One of the most common uses of a fire station is to host community events, such as open houses and tours of the facility. This helps the fire department to build trust with residents, while creating a strong bond between firefighters and their communities. The FDNY also places an emphasis on fire safety and prevention by conducting outreach programs in schools, teaching CPR techniques and more.

Increasingly, modern fire departments are designing their stations to be gender inclusive and inviting for all demographics. This means that separate dorm rooms are provided for each shift, with beds and lockers allowing for personal space for each firefighter. Additionally, wall beds – or “Murphy beds” – are becoming increasingly popular in fire station designs, as they provide the same functionality of individual beds while allowing for greater space efficiency.

Another essential component of a modern fire station is a system for storing and preparing the turnout gear – the protective clothing that firefighters wear when on duty. This gear can be extremely heavy and requires a lot of space to store. A well-designed, spacious readiness room allows for the proper storage and drying of the firefighting equipment, as well as for sizing and fitting firefighters for each shift.

Finally, a fire station must have a clear path from the entrance to the apparatus bays. This is especially important for two-story firehouses, where the fire trucks are housed on the upper level and the firefighters’ sleeping quarters are on the lower level. To ensure that the crew can respond to calls quickly, it’s critical to have efficient access to the vehicles. Increasingly, municipal planners are working with fire departments to integrate their road connectivity requirements into the planning of new city growth, ensuring that roads have flat curbs and parking regulations that allow for quick turnarounds by large trucks. This way, firefighters can get to a call within five minutes of receiving the notification.