How to determine where to locate a new firestation?

Is this in a city, a village or rural countryside?

Here is a FEMA publication on exactly this question.

How the hell did you find that? I’m guessing you also have Jimmy Hoffa’s body somewhere.

Part of the answer to this question will be determined by what kind of fire station this is: A station manned permanently by live-in professional firefighters who stay there on a shift-on basis, and then move back to be with their families during off-shift times? Or is it a strictly or mostly volunteer force, where firefighters will congregate when the alarm is sounded, and then take out the trucks?

In the case of the former, “convenient access” is less vital than the latter. Volunteer firefighters will rush in from all corners of the municipality and surrounding areas when the alarm sounds, so they all need decent access and parking for their vehicles. Professional firefighters have somewhat less need for “convenience”, since they generally come to the station during non-emergency times.

Proximity to existing stations is also a consideration. It wouldn’t make much sense to make a new fire station next to an existing one, unless the existing one were to be decommissioned immediately upon completion of the new one. That seldom happens. In that case it would make sense to locate the new station in or near the part of the municipality predicted to have the most growth and new population within the next 20 years or so, or near industrial or wooded (or other “fuel”) areas that pose the most risk of fire. (That also touches on the reason for the new fire station: growth of the municipality, or aging and obsolescence of the old station?)

Likewise, it wouldn’t make much sense for a town to put a fire station at one end of town if another town has their fire station just over the border. It would be wiser to make some kind of service arrangement that allowed each town to assist in the other’s fires (and other emergencies – since firefighters get called out on non-fire emergencies, too) so that the stations could be kept farther apart and effectively cover wider areas.

Aside from that, the place needs to be fully accessible at all times of the year, so proximity to major un-blocked highways and secondary roads is vital, as well as “high ground” that won’t be flooded – ever. It also wouldn’t make much sense to locate a fire station in an area at high risk for fire, such as a tenement slum that was already a fire trap. It doesn’t make sense to burn down the fire station when it’s most needed.

Many factors go into the selection of a new firehall. First, the people in the neighborhood would have to have a saying in its location. Second, a location that would give coverage to the most people. Third, a location of safety for the firehall, when the men/women and engine were not there. Fourth, quick and easy access to the interstate and other access roads for the greatest mobility and response time. Fifth, enough land appropriated for the firehall and where the style of the firehall would fit the general theme of the other neighborhood houses.

Don’t just look at current population – look at expected/predicted growth rates, new construction, family density, etc., for the next 20 years.

@Adirondackwannabe No, but I can find it.

@marinelife I’m not putting my bet against you. :)