After years, sometimes almost a decade, of planning, designing, negotiating and finally building a new fire station, how do you officially “open” a new fire station? Different regions celebrate new fire stations in different ways, but always take advantage of welcoming the community participation.
Two years ago, Buckeye, Ariz., Firehouse No. 3 held the grand opening of its newest station in an expanding residential area. In 2009, the fire department was one of the “shovel-ready” projects to receive the DHS Federal Emergency Management Agency $3.5 million grant to fund the station.
Besides winning a national 2012 Career Gold Station Award, Fire Chief Bob Costello took advantage of the station opening and invited the local community to help celebrate the newest facility.
Preceding the morning festivities, a ceremony was held in front of the bay doors, with chairs set up on the apron. Bag pipes played, flags flew and assorted local officials commented on the new fire station and then ceremoniously cut the ribbon on the new station.
The Buckeye Fire Department was grateful to the community for their support of the new station and decided to take advantage of the April 2012 event to also promote fire prevention education. To support the activities, nearby Peoria Fire Department offered their Family Safety House, a pub ed trailer, which demonstrated the use of residential sprinklers.
Children quickly donned plastic fire helmets and were offered rides on an old fire truck or were encouraged to enter an inflated jumping structure in the shape of a full-size fire truck. Station No. 3 was officially opened to the community.
Ken Newell, Principal, Stewart-Cooper-Newell Architects, has attended more than 100 openings of new fire stations. He noted that some of the more successful and best-attended station openings are when the weather is warm and it is turned into a kids’ fun day.
“If you get the kids there, you’ll get the parents also,” said Newell. “Everyone likes it when you treat their kids special.”
Some fire departments set up fire equipment that the kids can use, put a fire hose spray in play areas outside, have kids (and adults) games and competitions (musters), incorporate safety learning such as the fire safety trailer, etc. Newell added, “For this fun day to be successful, there needs to be lots of kids, so it must be well advertised.”
Instead of cutting ribbon, Newell remembers the “uncoupling of the hose” in front of a fire station. Focusing on the new features and trends in fire stations, such as providing live demonstrations of the training props built into the station, is also educational.
In the northeastern area of the country, Dennis Ross, Pacheco Ross Architects, had several clients that built new stations near their old stations so departments held a small ceremonial parade moving the trucks from the old station to the new.
“Wet-downs are almost nonexistent now because the water pressure from the pumpers can damage the building or roof,” said Ross.
Many fire department prefer a solemn event, there is always a convocation or prayer followed by entertainment after the ceremony. Many make an entire day of the event, learning for kids, picnic, and even a full sit-down lunch at the opening.
Ross remembers the Norwalk, CT, Fire Department opening when the chief used the front of an engine as the podium. “Folks spoke, then we had refreshments and station tours. Some of the firefighters were putting on training events so the public could watch. The training after the dedication is fun for the kids and the public loves it.”
Ironically, sometimes opening a new fire station is an opportunity for political recognition. “At virtually every ceremony, public officials from local to state or even the federal level come to speak about the project that they had absolutely nothing to do with,” said Ross.
In northwest Washington State, Dave Fergus, Rice Fergus Miller shared that some fire districts prefer the traditional rolling of the fire engine into the station, the same way they would have rolled the hose cart back into the station in the old days.
“The rolling is accomplished by 10 or 12 firefighters physically pushing the engine, but not before hosing off the wheels—symbolizing washing off the horse manure,” said Fergus. “There’s also a ringing of the bells and few other traditions to cap off the event. The rolling of the engine is usually in addition to the ribbon cutting as opposed to in its place. The overall production is always well received.”
Perhaps one of the most poignant openings of a new station was the Worcester, MA, Fire Department’s Franklin Street Station, a state-of-the-art station, housing four companies.
The Franklin Street Station is located on the site of the former Worcester Cold Storage Warehouse. On Dec. 3, 1999, six Worcester firefighters died inside the building. Nine years later, the Worcester Fire Department opened Franklin Street Station on the site of the devastating fire and replaced two smaller, older stations. A special memorial honoring the six fallen firefighters is located alongside the new station as a living memorial that will forever encapsulate the disastrous and heartbreaking event that transpired on the site.
The site was donated by the previous building’s owner. The copper-clad roofing was donated by the family of a long-time Worcester family.
The firefighters raised money on their own to cover the costs for the public monument in front of the facility. For those firefighters wanting a more private display of reflection for the six departed firefighters, six bricks from the original building were laid out in a cross pattern within the exterior walls of the facility, the exact location known only to the firefighters and a few others. They will always be entwined within the fabric of the facility.
Planning the opening of a new fire station or public safety facility is cause for a celebration and recognition of the life-saving services provided to the community. It can also be a tribute to those who have given their lives serving the community.
