Fire station

The Fire Station, also fire station, fire station, tool house, fire department ( Austria ), fire watch ( Switzerland ) or fire station, is the property of the fire brigade in one place. Since nowadays much more not only for the storage of equipment, but also and mainly to the lower position of vehicles, the training of fire fighters these houses serve the term firehouse used in Germany. It houses next to the emergency vehicles, accommodation and sanitary facilities for the crew, administrative areas and workshops. Depending on the size of the fire department will be outfitted with all the equipment listed below or just parts of it.

As fire stations are almost exclusively firefighters accommodations to call in the professional fire or large volunteer fire departments with full-time staff, because they are constantly busy, so constantly awake. They serve the insinuation of equipment and fire-fighting vehicles as well as the training of the fire fighters. In earlier times, the terms of this fire station or fire department depot were common. Occasionally, was inside a storage for the local hearse or the holding cell of the local jurisdiction in locking in Little Rascal.

As the oldest still operating fire station in Germany applies the fire station Prenzlauer Berg in Berlin.

Construction

In Germany the DIN 14092 describes the requirements for the construction of new fire stations.

Fahrzeughalle

In the vehicle hall, emergency vehicles are housed. Each vehicle has its own one of the dedicated parking space, on which it is supplied with power ( Battery charging ) and optionally compressed air ( braking on trucks) to move out as quickly as possible. In many fire stations an exhaust extraction system is also available.

In contrast to American fire stations not only two or three vehicles are stationed in Germany in the guards of the fire brigade. Large fire stations may well around 40 vehicles include (eg, the main fire station Berlin or the main fire station in Essen ). The number of vehicles varies from city to city. In Berlin, the American model was preferred to post many but smaller fire stations in the city. In almost all cities of the Ruhr, there are few, but large fire stations.

The vehicle hall is often associated with fire departments with multi-storey buildings due to slipping rods with the sleeping quarters of the wax department.

Team rooms

Room of the wax department leader

For larger fire departments a security department leader is constantly present. His room is usually next to the vehicle hall, which gives him a quick disengagement.

Changing rooms

In the changing rooms can take their dirty clothes the team after use, so that it is then cleaned in the closet. When the volunteer fire turnout gear is housed in lockers in the locker room or on hooks in the vehicle depot, and is applied there before use.

Situation in volunteer fire departments: The changing rooms are usually in close proximity to the vehicle hall or ( especially in older and smaller fire stations ) just in the vehicle hall. The arriving in civilian clothes firefighter drag around and occupy the vehicles. After use, the clothes is then exchanged again. Modern guards often have a so-called " black-and- white separation ." This means there are spaces that are entered only with "clean" clothes, and spaces that are entered with the use of dirty clothes. Ideally, the dressing area has a direct transition. The path between "white" and "black" (or vice versa) then you put " naked " back. Ideally also showers are available in the transition zone. This separation is to prevent any spread of dirt.

Situation with paid staff fire departments: Normally, the employees have been working clothes, and the cars are permanently allocated. The rest of the clothing is used in close proximity to each vehicle and will tightened quickly alerting. In cases of gross contamination after use, there is often even with these guards a " black and white " - changing area.

Stay and rest rooms for the wax department

Since full-time fire departments, professional and industrial brigades need to be permanently ausrückbereit, a wax department must be on constant alert. During normal working hours, the employees perform maintenance, repairs and other odd jobs at the police station. After this work they are in the so-called standby time. For this purpose, residence and rest rooms must be available. In the lounges, the firefighter can stop and investigate, for example, television or other pastimes. In many cases, there are pool tables and foosball tables, and a gym. A kitchen and dining rooms must be available. For a night's rest, the forces have rest rooms with beds where they can rest during the standby time. These rooms are usually set up for two or more firefighters. In case of alarm, the fire fighters reached within a few seconds the vehicle hall and equip yourself ready for use from there.

Control center

The control center or command center is used for coordination of operations. Emergency calls are answered here, evaluated and forwarded. For this purpose, the control center houses various radios, telephone systems, alarm systems and personal computers. During a power failure, the control center remains fully functional thanks to an emergency power generator or other backup power for hours. Should fail, the control center still, can possibly be avoided to a command vehicle ( ELW ), which is equipped with appropriate radio equipment and use literature. At larger sites use the ELW is already being used as an outsourced monitoring station. While the control center is staffed with professional fire or large volunteer fire departments around the clock, it is only open in the time of an insert in volunteer fire departments often. Therefore no emergency calls are put through to these fire stations.

Respiratory protection workshop

In the respiratory protection workshop all respiratory protective devices ( respirators, breathing air cylinders, filters and smoke hoods ) are managed, tested, maintained and repaired. For the cylinder compressor with appropriate air power is ready at the filling rig, depending on the model number of bottles can be filled with filtered air at the same time new. For cleaning and disinfection special facilities with washing machine, a disinfection system and a drying cabinet are available. The testing of respirators and masks made ​​at several test benches that are partially supported PC and check partially automatically. The maintenance of the equipment through one or more respirators waiting. Likewise, the fire brigade divers are maintained and tested in the respiratory protection workshop chemical protective suits and diving equipment.

Wardrobe

The Closet manages the use of clothing. If necessary, it ensures that clothing is cleaned or repaired. They also outsourced new clothing for emergency responders, which is issued in substitution or in Neueinkleidungen from here.

Hose workshop

In the hose workshop, the tubes are washed after use, dried, repaired and tested. Even small fire extinguishing equipment such as bucket pumps and fire extinguishers are checked and repaired here.

Hose washing

The tubes are filled with water before cleaning to determine damage. The test pressures are for the hose sizes (A, B, C, D ) hoses differently. The tubes are pre-treated in a container in a water bath and then purified by washing the tube.

Hose tower (drying )

After washing, the tubes are suspended in a tower for drying tube. Moreover, the tower can also be used for an instructor and rappelling. If breathing drills, the tower can be used for the simulation of a staircase in a tower block. In new buildings of fire stations is now often omitted for reasons of cost on the hose tower. Drying the hose, a tube oven is used instead. It is possible, of course, a horizontal placement on brackets on a wall not what the cheapest solution, but is not as effective though.

Hose storage

After drying, the tubes are dusted inside with Talkumersatz, curled up and sorted by size in the hose stored in warehouse shelves. From there they are distributed back to the emergency vehicles if required.

Funkwerkstatt

In the radio workshop all radios used in the fire service are (2- m and 4- m band ) and Pager checked and maintained.

Meeting room ( bar )

In the conference room, a complete crisis team has its place. In major incidents here the operational control will be established. There are several phones with its own phone number available. Here maps, information on all emergency vehicles as well as a large bar are available to perform the coordination of forces.

Training rooms

On the premises of the firefighters are out and trained. This reference is made to a number of technical devices. The benches are usually arranged so that an open exchange of views between the firefighters can take place freely in a pleasant atmosphere.

Respiratory protection system

The respiratory protection training facility (also called respiratory protection route) is used in particular to be repeated annually bearing exercises and training of respiratory protective equipment racks. In the anteroom an endless ladder, a treadmill and a hammer system or upper arm ergometer can usually be found at which breathing protection effort is simulated during a mission. In Appendices smoke, heat, noise, darkness and flickering light can be generated controls to represent different scenarios. The respiratory protective equipment rack must find their way in a cage system and various obstacles, such as hatches, pipes, plates, slides or stairs cope. New plants are fully monitored by cameras ( thermal imaging and infrared cameras). The exercise is performed in a darkened and partly fogged room. The aim of the exercise is to review the physical performance and the handling of the breathing apparatus. It can also use exercises in respiratory protection system are performed.

Administrative offices

Especially with professional fire departments, but also in large volunteer fire departments an administrative wing is essential. Here are the different departments such as human resources management, payroll services, Technical Department, Fire Prevention. Here the data of firefighters, fire trucks and equipment are managed, new purchases and decided conducted interviews. Often the complete fire and civil defense office is housed here. Often administrative spaces over ordered structures are also located at the central fire stations.

Kitchen

The wax departments provide for themselves constantly with food, as well as a kitchen belongs to their area.

Automotive repair shop

All kinds of repairs to the fire-fighting vehicles and equipment are in the automotive repair shop, depending on the size of the fire, made.

Tank system

Emergency vehicles with fuels such as diesel and gasoline are supplied at the gas station in particular, professional fire departments. Also here are the fuels for small devices, such as chainsaws and generators, maintained.

Exercise yard

On the farm practical exercises and training take place. To this end, here are both inground as well as above-ground hydrants available. In addition, space is available to demonstrate fires or traffic accidents. An open house can here the audience the work of the fire department are presented. As with the vehicle hall in the yard usually every vehicle comes with its own parking space available, which should also allow here a rapid and safe disengagement.

Rooms for young firefighters

In many fire stations changing rooms with lockers as well as stay - and group rooms for the youth fire brigade or fire department children are available. Here, young people and children meet on their exercises and other dates.

Combination with other community facilities

Since the fire station is a community facility, it is often combined with other institutions of the community. The simplest case is that even municipal flats are built with that one represents fire fighters available. Another option is a design as a safety center are also housed in the emergency services and the police. In large cities are frequently encountered but also a fire, civil, civil protection and rescue center. In small communities, the fire station is housed in the community center together with the community office sporadically.

Historical tool shed with hose tower

Fire station with vehicle hall and hose tower ( Schnaittach )

Modern fire station a volunteer fire department

Fire station of the volunteer fire department in Görmar ( Mühlhausen / Thüringen)

Fire station in the form of a fire engine in Styria

Situated Stocktes and expanded fire station

Fire station of the FF Gutenswegen with hose tower and equipment shed

Manor house and fire station in Krahne