FIRE STATION HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

Firefighters were known in the Roman Republic, but only as privately organized and funded
groups operating as more of a business than a service. This ad-hoc approach was later revolutionized
during the Principate to become the first truly professional firefighting service. Augustus called for the
creation of a trained fire guard, paid and equipped by the state. Known as the Vigiles, they were
organized into cohorts and also served as a night watch and a city police force.
Firefighters (historically, firemen) are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out
hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car
incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations. The increasing complexity of
modern industrialized life with an increase in the scale of hazards has created an increase in the skills
needed in firefighting technology and a broadening of the firefighter-rescuer's remit. They sometimes
provide emergency medical services. The fire service, or fire and rescue service, also known in some
countries as the fire brigade or fire department, are some of the emergency services.
Firefighting and firefighters have become ubiquitous around the world, wild land areas to urban
areas, and on board ships.
Many fire companies around the world, especially in the United States, develop annual beefcake
calendars. In these calendars, handsome and/or muscular firefighters appear scantily clad and
sometimes cavorting. Calendar proceeds function as fund raisers for their fire department and for
charities. Other forms of fund raising may include traditional Firemen's Balls (gala events attended by
firefighters and supporters from the community), community fairs, and ding-a-ling car washes (where the
price is whatever donation one wishes).
The original site of the first fire station has an interesting history. The original structure was
built in 1896 (now the site of the B-12 Tower). The building stood in back of what was Bradley's
Upholstery Shop on Franklin Avenue. When the Milwaukee Road tracks were expanded, the building
was moved to the site of the present Fire Station 1 located at 3113 Atlantic Street. The original structure
was two stories. In addition to housing the fire department it housed the village offices, the police station,
the infant welfare, ration board, and library. During the 1930's the second story was removed and in 1951
the building was turned over to the firemen, with the exception of the portion housing the library. Funds for
remodeling the firehouse were raised at the annual picnics and dances. The village also appropriated
money for the remodeling.
The history of organized combating of structural fires dates back at least to Ancient Egypt. Many
people put out fires back in biblical times, but whether people did it for a living is unknown.
Today, fire and rescue remains a mix of paid, call, and volunteer responders. Some Fire and
Rescue Services in the UK employ retained firefighters who are typically on call with pagers from their
homes and/or place of work; a small number of unpaid volunteer firefighters are also used in some
services

FACTORS TO BE CONSIDER IN FIRE STATION DESIGN

Fire stations not only hold the various pieces of equipment for fire fighting, but also serve as
homes and recreational areas for the firefighters. Proper organization of the fire station is needed for
effective fire fighting.
FUNCTION
Each fire station is unique, with variable conditions altering its use and building parameters.
Some stations house larger fire engines, whereas others have more compact engines, especially
in small towns.

IDENTIFICATIONS
In general, a basic fire station's space requirements should include an apparatus bay to
house the necessary vehicles and accessories for fire fighting, as well as an apparatus support
area for on-site repairs. Additionally, office space is needed for administrative support, such as dispatch
and conferencing rooms.
CONSIDERATIONS
What makes fire stations different than other business-type buildings is the necessity of
residential space. Firefighters occupy the space 24 hours a day, all year long, through varying shifts that
necessitate the need for sleeping areas and recreational areas.
Fire stations are important buildings, serving as the headquarters for local or regional fire
departments. Fire stations also store the department's trucks and other equipment. There are several key
requirements that need to be considered in designing a new fire station.
LOCATION
One of the first requirements for a fire station design is a good location. Besides a site where
land is available and affordable, a fire station must be centrally located to its area of operation,
giving firefighters a chance to respond to fires that are their responsibility in a reasonable amount
of time. The station must also be positioned on a road that can accommodate large fire trucks and does
not have traffic patterns that are likely to delay firefighters.
LAYOUT
The layout of a fire station is very different from other public buildings. This is because the
fire station serves a series of specific purposes.
FLOOR COVERINGS
Floors must be able to stand up to heavy abuse, be easily cleaned, and look good for the times
that the public comes to visit the fire station. Good floor coverings include heavy stone tiles,
commercial laminate tile, and stained concrete slab floors. The wet areas such as the kitchen and
bathrooms must have non-slip floor finishes. Carpet is not a good idea for heavily used common areas
due to cleaning issues, but may be considered for light use sleeping quarters.

FUNCTION AND USAGE OF SPACES

Fire stations present an unique challenge to architects due to the many functions required of a
firehouse. Not simply a place to go to work, fire stations must have ample room to house fire trucks and
equipment, plus incorporate administrative and residential areas. Departments that provide field medical
service keep rescue units at the stations as well. Thoughtful planning is required for fire stations to be
operational 24 per day, 365 days per year.
APPARATUS BAY
The center of most fire stations is the apparatus bay, where firefighters store their trucks and
other equipment. Adjacent to the apparatus bay may be a smaller vehicle maintenance bay. The
apparatus needs to be easily accessible from the living space where firefighters spend their time and are
likely to be located at the time a call comes in. Some fire stations contain a dormitory for overnight shifts,
while others may only contain a day room or recreation room. Other spaces that need to be included in
the design are an administration area for offices and telephones as well as a lobby for visitors and
citizens to come to with fire station business.

RECREATIONAL AREA
Some stations may also include an outdoor area for recreation or holding training exercises.
Other fire departments own property at another location for more intensive and dangerous training away
from the population center where the station is located. This also provides a nature trail that runs through
a wooded area along the river. Motor vehicles have been excluded from this trail so it is a quiet place to
walk or jog.
LIVING AREA
Living in a fire station is just like living in a normal family home with just a few differences.
Keeping these differences in mind, a fire station floor design must be planned for rough use,
constant occupation and ease of maintenance. In a fully paid fire department, a fire station is usually
staffed with between three to 12 people every day of the year for 24 hours a day. A fire station floor design
must incorporate a few features to accommodate constant use that may not be present in a normal single
family home.
KITCHEN
The kitchen of a fire station must be easy to clean and have room for many cooks to
operate independently at the same time. Seamless counter tops, kitchen islands, and multiple
commercial appliances accomplish this task. Multiple refrigerators and supply closets for individual shifts
of firefighters will also help to avoid personnel conflicts. Some fire station kitchens have a master gas
valve to shut off fuel supply to the oven and stove in the event a fire call comes into the station while
cooking.
COMMON AREA
The common area of the fire station is the part of the station that is used the most during
the day along with the kitchen. This area needs to be separated from high traffic kitchen and
hallway areas. Some form of comfortable seating needs to be used to accommodate the number of
people using the area for extended amounts of time. Seating also needs to be of an easy to clean and
maintain material.
BATHROOMS
Ideally there will be one bathroom for every two firefighters at the station. The bathrooms
should be plumbed with commercial fixtures and a shower is a must to decontaminate after
messy fire calls. The floor should be of a non-slip variety. A linen cabinet should be built in to provide
showering and cleaning supplies. A drain installed into the floor makes the bathroom easier to clean after
decontamination from calls and as a safety policy against water leaks
LOBBY
A small section of the fire pole from the old station is mounted in the new station's lobby.
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE
In addition to performing command staff functions on emergency incidents the Fire Administration
is responsible for the daily operations of the department. This includes budget development and control,
long and short term planning, purchasing, records, training, Emergency Management and other functions
required to operate the business aspect of the department. Data entry, processing information, and
communications are a few of the administrative functions carries out. The administrative block is
connected to the truck bays through a Bunker Area/Gear Room accessible also from a secondary
exterior entry

TRAINING ROOM
Each training room is fitted out with high specification audio visual equipment that allows
the delivery of multi-media presentations utilizing a range of software applications. These include
smart board screens for interactive application, overhead projection and audio facilities for delivering
PowerPoint and DVD presentations and in addition each has internet and intranet access. In addition
each is fitted with Wi-Fi connectivity and air conditioning.The Training Centre has a wide range of high
quality training facilities that enable the student to learn and develop in an environment that
supports both theoretical and practical aspects of Training.
RESTROOM
Female firefighters unanimously preferred gender specific restrooms over unisex
restrooms. Two-thirds of the officers with the department also preferred gender specific
restrooms to unisex facilities. The Fire Protection Handbook does not appear to recognize any dispute
on the best way to provide restroom facilities. The text simply states that "Separate facilities for men
and women should include sinks, toilets, showers, and lockers, as well as closets for linen"
From the facilities provided at the newer fire stations it seems clear that station designers
intended that the primary restrooms available to the staff should be gender specific. It should also be
noted, however, that the restroom intended for male firefighters often had more fixtures, including
both toilets and showers, than the restroom provided for female firefighters. While this may have
been based on the actual ratio of male to female employees, it is more likely that is results from a
stereotype that views firefighting as a primarily male occupation. The provision of unequal sized
facilities just reinforces the message that females are never expected to be on an equal basis with
male firefighters, at least in terms of numbers.
.LOCKER ROOM
There are classroom/meeting room facilities along with washroom facilities, kitchen and a locker
room.
MESS ROOM
A mess (also called a messdeck aboard ships) is the place where military personnel
socialise, eat, and (in some cases) live. In some societies this military usage has extended to
other disciplined services eateries such as civilian fire fighting and police forces. The root of mess
is the Old French mes, "portion of food" (cf. modern French mets), drawn from the Latin verb mittere,
meaning "to send" and "to put" (cf. modern French mettre), the original sense being "a course of a meal
put on the table". This sense of mess, which appeared in English in the 13th century, was often used for
cooked or liquid dishes in particular, as in the "mess of pottage" (porridge or soup) for which Esau in
Genesis traded his birthright. By the 15th century, a group of people who ate together was also called
a mess, and it is this sense that persists in the "mess halls" of the modern military.
CONTROL ROOM
Control room means that (fire brigade) staffs are rotated between fire and control room
duties with the majority of their time on control room operations. At any one time there are 5
firefighters and one supervisor / sub-officer in the control room with the same again on stand down time in
the same building. This means that should the need arise for example in a major emergency the staff
level can be doubled within a minute or two. Since the change over the number of call taking positions
has increased as well to 12.

STATION COMMANDER
A Station Manager (previously a Station Commander who may have been of Station Officer Rank
under the old rank system) is an officer in charge of 1 or more fire stations.
A Station Commander is an officer in charge of 1 or more fire. If a Battalion or District Chief
works out of a station, a Captain or Lieutenant is still usually the officer in charge of the day-to-day
operations of the station. In some cases the term "station officer" is used to differentiate between an
officer who works in the field and a staff officer.
In many areas there is a Captain on every shift (watch) at a station. This means that each shift
has its own station officer. In some departments there is a designated officer who is in overall charge of
the station.
WORKSHOPS
Workshops are open plan so you will be sharing space with other artists. We have a part
time Workshop Manager on hand to ensure that all artists have enough scheduled time and access to
available equipment.Fire Station provides digital media workshops for artists to support their
research, documentation and the making of their art work
TESTING ROOM
Schematic test room has a dimension of 3.7 x 4.9 m and discharges into a 1.2 sq. duct. The
ducting is comprised of an initial upward section then downward portion and finally another upward
section.
HOSE DRYING TOWER
Hose drying is presently accomplished by drying the fire hoses between the vehicles.
Hose tower, a traditional symbol of fire departments, is not only used to dry fire hoses but
incorporates balcony elements that can be used for training purposes. This provides the fire fighters
with local facilities, eliminating their travel to other halls for weekly training exercises. The tower also
incorporates Solar wall, a proprietary system that heats outside air with the suns energy,
accelerating the drying of the hoses by pumping warm air directly into the tower, and
supplementing the mechanical heating system.
MAINTENANCE
The Support Services Facility is used by the fire department as a maintenance and repair
facility for fire trucks and equipment. The new location is safer because it has modern equipment,
truck lifts and space for more equipment. The rescue unit is in excellent condition and is well-equipped
with the standard first-aid and stabilizing equipment, including a defibrillator.
The departments support services buildings include mechanical maintenance and the
regional fire training center. These structures are located in a manner to minimize impact to
residential areas. These facilities are necessary to supporting the main mission of emergency
response with repair of vehicles and equipment, as well as training for firefighters in a large part
of the southeast valley.
BREATHING APPARATUS WORKSHOP AND SERVICING
A self contained breathing apparatus, or SCBA, sometimes referred to as a Compressed
Air Breathing Apparatus (CABA), air pack, or simply Breathing Apparatus (BA) is a device worn by
rescue workers, firefighters, and others to provide breathable air in an IDLH (Immediate Danger to
Life and Health) Atmosphere. When not used underwater, they are sometimes called industrial
breathing sets. The term "self-contained" means that the breathing set is not dependent on a remote

supply (e.g., through a long hose). If designed for use under water, it is called SCUBA (self-contained
underwater breathing apparatus).
VEHICLE AND APPLIANCE WORKSHOP
The workshop contains three pit bays, one HGV ramp bay, one car and van ramp bay and a
spraying bay. The setup enables up to six vehicles to be in the workshop at any one time.
The workshop also houses the stores, including both clothing and equipment, and holds over
7,000 items including operational equipment like branches and radios, and clothing from tunics to dress
uniforms. This is always updated to ensure any equipment or clothing needed is ready to be dispatched
immediately to wherever it is needed.
The workshops also maintain all of the operational equipment, from repairing the lengths
of hoses to the breathing apparatus (BA) sets; this is carried out by the specialist hose shop
also located on-site.
The Workshops is also tasked with:
fitting out all new vehicles, large and small
Modifying, upgrading and re-issuing of re-allocated appliances.
Each vehicle in the fleet is subject to a 12-monthly routine major service on a rolling basis. However, this
is not just one service as an appliance will have as many as six separate services:
Mechanical
Body
Electrical (vehicle and some equipment)
Major pump
Generator and.or Light Portable Pump (LPP)
All the appliance ladders
LAUNDRY AREA
Section 5.5, Cleaning Protective Ensembles and Contaminated Clothing, will be revised to read as
follows:
5.5.1 The fire department shall provide for the cleaning of protective ensembles and contaminated
station/work uniforms.
5.5.2 Cleaning of protective ensembles and contaminated station/work uniforms shall be performed by a
cleaning service or at a fire department facility equipped to handle contaminated clothing.
5.5.3 Where the cleaning is conducted in fire stations, the fire department shall provide at least
one washing machine and clothes dryer for the dedicated purpose of cleaning protective
ensembles and contaminated station/work uniforms. An annex (5.5.3.2) will read: If the fire
department allows the washing of non-contaminated laundry including bedding in the fire station, a
separate washer and dryer should be available for that purpose and located in an area that is remote from
the cleaning area specified in section 5.7.
5.5.3.1 The washer and dryer shall be located in the designated cleaning area specified
5.5.3.2 Non-contaminated clothing and other laundry shall not be washed in the same machine(s).
5.5.4 If protective ensembles are to be cleaned at a separate fire department facility, a dedicated machine
for the sole purpose of cleaning the protective ensembles shall be provided.
Contaminated protective gear exposes firefighters to potentially life-threatening
chemicals, biological agents and particulate matter. If not dealt with properly, soiled protective gear
can also pass on contaminants to the public at large. The key to limiting a firefighter's exposure to such
hazards is proper decontamination of soiled gear, which after a fire, car accident or similar event, can be
laden with life-threatening chemicals, blood, body fluids or particulate matter.
TIPS IN DESIGNING A FIRE STATION

1. Know the main features of a fire station. The fire trucks, rescue units and other fire response
vehicles are parked in the apparatus bays. Allow room in the bays for the apparatus bay support,
where equipment is cleaned and stored, as well as for service of vehicles with basic maintenance
checks. Administrative and training zones allow for the everyday running of the department and
training of recruits. The residential sections include the common room, kitchen, showers, sleeping
quarters and a fitness room.
2. Find out whether the station will be a new building or a renovation of a previous station or
other kind of building. Constructing a completely new building will be much more expensive
than renovating unless the current building is in disrepair or very old. Either way, the design and
construction of the new station should incorporate as many eco-friendly features as possible to
save tax-payers money in the future.
3. Determine the main use of the fire station. A substation will be smaller than a combined station
and training facility, and the central command may require large apparatus maintenance
capabilities. Design the station for a department's headquarters with administrative offices,
equipment storage units and possibly an archival space such as the local fire museum. Include
conference or presentation rooms for educational programs for local schools and groups. The
types of trucks to be kept at the station dictate the length and height of the parking bays.
4. Research the kind of response calls the station will mostly likely take. Firefighters at a
station in a residential area will respond to fires and vehicle accidents. A station near an industrial
park requires equipment for handling chemical spills, explosions and other hazardous waste
emergencies. A water harbor firehouse will need to accommodate watercraft for the dive unit.
Consider whether the station will have a specialized focus such as wildfire or aircraft rescue fire
fighting. Allow parking for rescue units or ambulances, plus corresponding paramedic equipment,
if the department handles medical calls.
5. Design the space to flow from one area to another without disruption to other fire fighters
or equipment. The communal room with the television should be distanced from the study or
sleeping areas. Separate the decontamination zone from equipment areas to ensure hazardous
material does not mix with supplies. Situate the apparatus bays in between the apparatus support
bay and the administrative/living areas to provide quick internal response time while covering
vehicle maintenance needs. Design flow must accommodate the guidelines of the American
Disabilities Act if administrative or public areas are included in the station layout.