Atlanta Fire Rescue Department


The Atlanta Fire Rescue Department provides fire protection and first responder emergency medical services to the city of Atlanta, Georgia. The department is responsible for an area of with over 519,000 residents. The current Fire Chief is Randall Slaughter

History

The Atlanta Fire Rescue Department got its start in February 1848 when residents were ordered to have fire buckets ready in their homes. It wasn't until three years later, after several major fires, that the Georgia Legislature approved a bill that authorized the formation of Atlanta Fire Company No. 1, which went into service on March 25, 1851.

Stations and apparatus

The Atlanta Fire Rescue Department currently operates out of 34 fire stations, located throughout the city of Atlanta, organized into 7 Battalions, including an Airport Battalion commanding 5 Fire Stations that serve the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. Below is a list of all of the fire station locations in the city.
Fire Station NumberNeighborhoodEngine or ARFF Engine CompanyTruck, Tower or ARFF Truck CompanySpecial UnitDivision Chief or Battalion ChiefBattalion
1Castleberry HillEngine 1*Truck 1Decon. Unit 1, Air Unit 7, Air Shuttle UnitDivision Chief 13
2Lakewood HeightsEngine 2*Truck 2Decon. Unit 2, Air Bag Unit 21
3North BuckheadEngine 3Mobile Command Unit6
5WestsideEngine 5*G.S.A.R. Unit 61 Battalion Chief 44
4Old Fourth WardEngine 6*Squad 4, T.S.U. 15
7West EndEngine 7*EMS-2*4
8Hills ParkEngine 8Battalion Chief 22
9AdamsvilleEngine 9*2
10Grant ParkEngine 10Truck 10Antique Light TruckBattalion Chief 55
11Atlantic StationEngine 11Tower 11Mini-Pumper 11, Swift Water/Dive Rescue Unit3
12EdgewoodEngine 12Truck 125
13East AtlantaEngine 13*5
14Oakland CityEngine 14Truck 141
15MidtownEngine 15*Truck 15Battalion Chief 33
16Washington ParkEngine 16*Truck 162
17WestviewEngine 17*4
18KirkwoodEngine 185
19Inman ParkEngine 193
20Capitol View ManorEngine 201
21Buckhead ForestEngine 21*Truck 21Air Bag Unit 21, G.S.A.R. Unit 6Battalion Chief 66
22Grove ParkEngine 222
23Berkeley ParkEngine 23*Mini-Pumper 233
24Hartsfield–Jackson AirportEngine 24 Truck 47ARFF 1, ARFF 2, Squad 24, Mini-Pumper 517
25Cascade HeightsEngine 25Truck 254
26WestministerEngine 26*Truck 266
27Chastain ParkEngine 27Hose Tender 276
28RiversideEngine 28Foam 28,2
29Piedmont HeightsEngine 29Truck 296
30Glenrose HeightsEngine 30*Battalion Chief 11
31Ben HillEngine 31Truck 314
32Hartsfield–Jackson AirportEngine 32 Med. Unit 1, ARFF, ARFF7
33Hartsfield–Jackson AirportEngine 33 Truck 43 ARFF 5, ARFF 6, EMS 3*7
34Poole CreekEngine 34Mobile Ambulance Bus 11
35Hartsfield–Jackson AirportEngine 35 Med. Unit 2, ARFF 7, ARFF 8, ARFF ReserveBattalion Chief 77
38Brookview HeightsEngine 38*Truck 382
40Hartsfield–Jackson AirportEngine 40 Truck 41 Med 3, ARFF 3, ARFF 4, Squad 47, Stair Unit 487

Notable incidents

Great Atlanta fire

The Great Atlanta fire of 1917 broke out in the Old Fourth Ward around 12:30 pm on May 21, 1917. At the time of the fire, the department had simple horse-drawn fire apparatus and the city's fire hydrants were running with low pressure. It is unclear just how the fire started, but it was fueled by hot temperatures and strong winds. After nearly 10 hours, had burned, destroying 1,900 structures and displacing over 10,000 people. Damages were estimated at $5 million,.

Winecoff Hotel fire

The Winecoff Hotel fire, which occurred on December 7, 1946, was the deadliest hotel fire in United States history, killing 119 hotel occupants, including the hotel's owners. The Winecoff Hotel had been advertised as "absolutely fireproof." While the hotel's steel structure was indeed protected against the effects of fire, the hotel's interior finishes were combustible, and the building's exit arrangements consisted of a single stairway serving all fifteen floors. All of the hotel's occupants above the fire's origin on the third floor were trapped, and the fire's survivors either were rescued from upper-story windows or jumped into nets held by firemen.

Fire Station No. 16

During the civil rights movement, members of the African-American community pressured the Mayor and City Council of Atlanta to integrate the city's fire department. In 1962, Mayor Ivan Allen Jr. authorized the first hiring of sixteen African American firemen. On April 1, 1963, after completing training, they were housed at Fire Station No. 16, as stations were not yet integrated. Located in 1048 Simpson Rd., the station was built upon the former property of Theodore "Tiger" Flowers, the world’s first African American middleweight champion. Continuing the efforts to diversify the fire department, Mayor Maynard Jackson ordered the hiring of seven African-American women to serve as firefighters in 1977.

Bluffton University bus accident

The Bluffton University bus accident was an automobile crash that occurred during the early morning hours of March 2, 2007, on Interstate 75 in Atlanta. A chartered motorcoach was carrying 33 members of the Bluffton University baseball team when at about 5:38 am EST, the bus rolled off of an overpass killing seven and injuring 29 others. The Atlanta Fire Rescue Department was the primary agency on scene for the crash.