Non-North American Fire Departments

[Fred03]

As a fellow who hasn't gotten abroad much I am curious about foreign Fire Departments. I see in many mods here on the forum most of the European mods have massive fire stations with upwards of ten trucks at the station, while in the US and Canada at least most departments are spread out across cities with rarely more than 2 or 3 units at a urban station. Volunteer departments in rural areas often have midsized stations that contain all the units but its rare to find a VFD with more than 7 or 8 trucks at one station.

[Wkboy714]

Hey,

what are you curious about exactly? Obviously I'm no expert and can't comment on all of Europe, but in the parts of the UK I know (urban, suburban) we have that similar set up of smaller stations with 2, 3 or 4 units. Whereas the default LA mod starts with a huge station. Don't take all mods for fact

[Fred03]

I'm curious about how foreign fire departments handle station staffing when it comes to units per station.

[tysohug]

over here in australia, victoria most of the CFA stations have 1 or 2 trucks with/with out a 4WD foward command vehcle

[mariuswww]

I'm curious about how foreign fire departments handle station staffing when it comes to units per station.

I can not talk for all of Europe, but in my area, there are 8 people in one big station. They are assigned to engine, ladder and tanker. So if they all respond to a house fire, dispatch will page more people in to cover the station.

[Fred03]

Is the station just 1 engine, 1 ladder and 1 tanker "company" or do you have other vehicles there also?

[mariuswww]

Is the station just 1 engine, 1 ladder and 1 tanker "company" or do you have other vehicles there also?

Negative, the station holds 2 engines, 2 tankers, 2 ladders, 1 rescue, and a variety of small vehicles. The idea is that when the on duty guys leave for a fire, paged people will watch the station and respond to any other emergencies in the city with the remainder of the vehicles.

[piloto19hh]

Here in Spain we have a bit of all, big stations in cities like Barcelona and in big towns (which provides services to small towns around it). And small stations at small towns (mostly are volunteer FDs). In big stations at cities we have at least: 2 BUL (light urban Pumper), 2 BUP (heavy urban Pumper), 2 ladders, 1 rescue and one command. In big stations at big towns we have 2/3 engines, 1 ladder, 1 rescue and a commander. At small stations all depend: maybe they have only one engine, maybe 2, maybe 1 engine and one Pumper... but they almost never will have ladder or rescue an NEVER a commander.

[SuperStumpje]

There's a volunteer station around the corner here that has 2 engines and a small van, which is the standard setup for volunteer stations in my city. The "normal" stations have quite a lot of differences. There's the main one that houses at least 2 engines, a command vehicle and the diving unit and probably some other things I can't remember, and there are some smaller ones. I know one nearby has at least 1 engine (think they've got a spare somewhere too) and a ladder truck, there's one that has at least one engine, foam tender and an aerial platform thingy (google translate FTW) and a container vehicle I think (only been there once, years ago) and there's one that only has an engina and a ladder truck (and once again, possibly a spare engine. never been there so got no idea).

 

If there is a 2nd engine at a station (volunteer or not) it's usually a spare vehicle for training and backup. As far as I know every station has a van too as a runaround vehicle for getting chinese takeaways and moving stuff between stations. There are some other rarely used vehicles parked somewhere else but I can't remember where they are or what vehicles.

[randomperson139]

The station in my small town (pop. of less than 10,000) is retained and has 2 Pumps, and the station in the next town a few miles down down the road is exactly the same.

The bigger town about 10 miles away has a bigger station with 2 Pumps and 2 Prime Movers, and as far as I know is also retained.

 

So yeah, small stations is usually the normal over here. Although, I think our retained system over here is a bit different to VFDs everywhere else.

[theparanoid]

As a fellow who hasn't gotten abroad much I am curious about foreign Fire Departments. I see in many mods here on the forum most of the European mods have massive fire stations with upwards of ten trucks at the station, while in the US and Canada at least most departments are spread out across cities with rarely more than 2 or 3 units at a urban station. Volunteer departments in rural areas often have midsized stations that contain all the units but its rare to find a VFD with more than 7 or 8 trucks at one station.

I beg to differ.   Where I am at.   We have station 15

 

Which house

Engine 15

Engine 15-2

Ladder 15

Rescue 15

Squad 15

Brush 15

Squad 15-2 (fire Police)

Command 15

Tank 15

That 9 units in one building. Station 15 is all house in one location.   then right next door to that is Station 45 which house 45-1, 45-2, and 45-3.

 

Next fire district over.  Station 11

Tanker 11

Tanker 11-2

Engine 11

Rescue 11

Squad 11

Brush 11

Command 11

 

that Seven units in one station

 

Station 1 - Butler City, from there own website

 

Together we staff three engines, one aerial truck, one squad, one rescue and one Command vehicle from one Central Station. Fire Headquarters, located within the Cities’ Central district is located at 110 North Washington Street; Butler, Pennsylvania 16001 and is within the Public safety Building.

Seven units on station.

 

http://cityofbutler.org/departments/public-safety/fire-department/

 

Cranberry Township Volunteer Fire Department

Per there web site

 

1629 Haine School Road

This station was built in 1982 and houses E21-3, R21, IC-3 and SQ21-2.

Park Station 20727 Route 19

This station was constructed in 1995 and is located on Route 19 at the entrance to the community park, it houses E21-2, T21, E21, SQ21, B21, our 1928 Pirsch Pumper, and the Fire Safety House.

that 4 and 6.

 

In fact in my county It rare to have  station with only one or 2 units.   The only one I can think off is Station 42-3 which house on Engine 42-3 because it covers the edge of district and that where the volunteers are.  Adams Area Fire District is the only station I am away of with more then one station.  For a total of 3.  But that may change when they get there new station. 

[erfd]

The fire service around the world varies so much its really hard to get a straight answer for something like this.

 

In my area (North Metro of Minnesota), my POC/Volunteer Fire Dept has two stations with 8 at one station and 5 at the other. At my staffed station in the metro we have one station with 14 apparatus. Both areas are about the same size in area, just different in population.

[Fred03]

14 apparatus? Wow! I should clarify that my experiences are limited to American Urban fire departments (NYFD, BFD, LAFD etc) and rural volunteer departments covering moderate size area with small populations.

[FFMeredith]

In Tamworth we have two stations, a larger 4 bay community station that houses 1x engine (Full Time) and either water rescue or fire investigation. Then there is a small single bay (!x Appliance) which ie either part time or volunteer, I can't remember which! Pictured is the large 4 Bay

 

upload photo

[theparanoid]

14 apparatus? Wow! I should clarify that my experiences are limited to American Urban fire departments (NYFD, BFD, LAFD etc) and rural volunteer departments covering moderate size area with small populations.

But it not. Because the station I quote expect for Butler City and cranberry are 100% Rural.  Cranberry was rural just 15 years ago.   Saxonburg fire department fire and ambulance service covers about 49 Square miles with less then 10,000 people. 

The most dense examples I gave butler city 13,757 with 2.7 square miles is the only paid department.   Cranberry is hardly rural anymore what with 28,098 people in 59Square miles.  But it hardly a urban center.  

 

What you seem to know is your little corner.  that about it.    Final point is stations come in all shape and sizes the only common factor is the departments that have them feel they best suit there needs.

[theocd]

The fire stations in my county vary between 1 and 17 vehicles, if you go below you can see all the fire stations and if you click 'Meet the Fleet' you can see all the vehicles

http://www.bucksfire.gov.uk/BucksFire/Fire+Stations/

The OC-D

[erfd]

14 apparatus? Wow! I should clarify that my experiences are limited to American Urban fire departments (NYFD, BFD, LAFD etc) and rural volunteer departments covering moderate size area with small populations.

Ya, only a few are staffed at a time however (Typically two EMS SUVs and a Engine Company), others are specialty units such as Rescues, Ladders, Foam Trailers, and Boat/Water Rescue trucks, and engines for call-back for bigger calls. The population of the city during the day exceeds 100,000 in about 14 square miles and about 30,000 overnight.

[Fred03]

Found a discussion on the largest fire station/department http://www.firehouse.com/forums/t96482/

[erfd]

https://www.google.com/search?q=roseville+mn+fire+station&tbm=isch&ei=yVi1U7zmPIOyyATzsYHQDA#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=6_f9YJjpGF6XIM%253A%3B3DEClz6iEs_zyM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.wenck.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2013%252F12%252FMG_0246.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.bossardt.com%252Fprojects%252F%3B800%3B551

https://www.google.com/search?q=roseville+mn+fire+station&tbm=isch&ei=yVi1U7zmPIOyyATzsYHQDA#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=IeFaDebtt9Ar0M%253A%3BnQRg3-qiF8cBvM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.lmc.org%252Fmedia%252Fimage%252F1%252Fjf14rosevillefirestation.png%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.lmc.org%252Fpage%252F1%252FBitsJanFeb2014.jsp%3B243%3B228

 

3D Rendering

https://www.google.com/search?q=roseville+mn+fire+station&tbm=isch&ei=yVi1U7zmPIOyyATzsYHQDA#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=-hZ_wLDQBl0yWM%253A%3BKUy7bdPahuvGEM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fo.aolcdn.com%252Fdims-shared%252Fdims3%252FPATCH%252Fquality%252F82%252Fresize%252F458x150%252Fhttp%253A%252F%252Fhss-prod.hss.aol.com%252Fhss%252Fstorage%252Fpatch%252Fd8e99091063788accab0f50b80a21049%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Froseville.patch.com%252Fgroups%252Fpolitics-and-elections%252Fp%252Froseville-fire%3B456%3B150

https://www.google.com/search?q=roseville+mn+fire+station&tbm=isch&ei=yVi1U7zmPIOyyATzsYHQDA#facrc=_&imgdii=-hZ_wLDQBl0yWM%3A%3BUO2X2fo_2RXlHM%3B-hZ_wLDQBl0yWM%3A&imgrc=-hZ_wLDQBl0yWM%253A%3BKUy7bdPahuvGEM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fo.aolcdn.com%252Fdims-shared%252Fdims3%252FPATCH%252Fquality%252F82%252Fresize%252F458x150%252Fhttp%253A%252F%252Fhss-prod.hss.aol.com%252Fhss%252Fstorage%252Fpatch%252Fd8e99091063788accab0f50b80a21049%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Froseville.patch.com%252Fgroups%252Fpolitics-and-elections%252Fp%252Froseville-fire%3B456%3B150

 

Picture of our station.

[mariuswww]

https://www.google.com/search?q=roseville+mn+fire+station&tbm=isch&ei=yVi1U7zmPIOyyATzsYHQDA#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=6_f9YJjpGF6XIM%253A%3B3DEClz6iEs_zyM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.wenck.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2013%252F12%252FMG_0246.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.bossardt.com%252Fprojects%252F%3B800%3B551

https://www.google.com/search?q=roseville+mn+fire+station&tbm=isch&ei=yVi1U7zmPIOyyATzsYHQDA#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=IeFaDebtt9Ar0M%253A%3BnQRg3-qiF8cBvM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.lmc.org%252Fmedia%252Fimage%252F1%252Fjf14rosevillefirestation.png%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.lmc.org%252Fpage%252F1%252FBitsJanFeb2014.jsp%3B243%3B228

 

3D Rendering

https://www.google.com/search?q=roseville+mn+fire+station&tbm=isch&ei=yVi1U7zmPIOyyATzsYHQDA#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=-hZ_wLDQBl0yWM%253A%3BKUy7bdPahuvGEM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fo.aolcdn.com%252Fdims-shared%252Fdims3%252FPATCH%252Fquality%252F82%252Fresize%252F458x150%252Fhttp%253A%252F%252Fhss-prod.hss.aol.com%252Fhss%252Fstorage%252Fpatch%252Fd8e99091063788accab0f50b80a21049%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Froseville.patch.com%252Fgroups%252Fpolitics-and-elections%252Fp%252Froseville-fire%3B456%3B150

https://www.google.com/search?q=roseville+mn+fire+station&tbm=isch&ei=yVi1U7zmPIOyyATzsYHQDA#facrc=_&imgdii=-hZ_wLDQBl0yWM%3A%3BUO2X2fo_2RXlHM%3B-hZ_wLDQBl0yWM%3A&imgrc=-hZ_wLDQBl0yWM%253A%3BKUy7bdPahuvGEM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fo.aolcdn.com%252Fdims-shared%252Fdims3%252FPATCH%252Fquality%252F82%252Fresize%252F458x150%252Fhttp%253A%252F%252Fhss-prod.hss.aol.com%252Fhss%252Fstorage%252Fpatch%252Fd8e99091063788accab0f50b80a21049%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Froseville.patch.com%252Fgroups%252Fpolitics-and-elections%252Fp%252Froseville-fire%3B456%3B150

 

Picture of our station.

 

He's asking for non American station depts lol

[erfd]

 

He's asking for non American station depts lol

Showing how much departments vary worldwide and by locality and showing how European influence has come over to some areas in the US.

 

[martijntjuh]

A station here in the Netherlands (Kampen (for an area of aprox. 50.000 people or 11.39 km²), it has 10 bays and a washing bay.(volunteer)

2 Engines

1 high rise unit

1 Rescue truck

1 tanker

3 p/m (person / material) vehicles

1 older hose truck for the junior firefighters

 

behind some of the vehicles:

1 boat

1 powder trailer

1 foam trailer

1 pump trailer

1 material trailer

 

The second station we have in the next town ( IJsselmuiden ) has 3 bays.(volunteer)

1 hose truck

1 engine

1 P/M van

it's hard say what is standard over here as many stations are different however there is always an Engine

 

Link to original page with all the vehicles as well:

http://www.112kampen.nl/informatie/brandweer/

[rgalante]

My local fire department (Seixal FD) is the 5th biggest in Portugal and the 2nd Best in the country. They're a full professional FD since 2008 and have 3 stations. 

Central Fire Station - 

 

1st Section. located in Corroios (where i live, in the picture you can see Ambulance 05, Light Pumper 02 and Wildland Pumper 03)

 

 

2nd Section, located in Amora City (Here, problalby its where they have 75% of their calls) - In the back of This station, they have a Training Facility, used by all Fire Departments in Setubal District. Also, Its here in this station, where they most of their ambulances operating. (In the picture you can see Intensive Care ambulance on the left, but nowadays is a normal rescue ambulance with other painting, ambulance 04, that no longer operates, Light Pumper 02 and Bat Chief 03.

 

Seixal Municipality has almost 190,000 people, being the 8th biggest in Portugal. 

In terms of vehicles they have 9 ambulances (being on of them an INEM Ambulance operated by the FD), 3 Wildland Engines, 1 Light Pumper (especialized in urban intervention and rescue operations), 1 Rural Pumper ( Its an All round Pumper, because its basicaly a normal Engine but 4x4, featuring Rescue Material), 3 Urban Pumpers (2 of them also with Rescue Material, and the Urban Pumper 03, its in my opinion, one of the most Pumpers i ever saw, is my favourite unit), 1 Rescue Squad, 4 Tankers, 1 Special Pumper (for Wildland Fires), 1 Aerial Ladder, 1 Bat Chief Vehicle, 3 boats and a lot of Support vehicles.

 

I have pictures of all units if you guys want xD

[Fred03]

So would I be correct in saying (in Portugal at least) that in urban areas fire protection is based out one or two large central stations as opposed to small stations spread out across the city?

[met police999]

It's how it is in most European countries just one big station to cover a large area with the occasional one to three bay station