Cincinnati Fire Stations and Apparatus

[LaurenSkye]

I've decided to combine my interests in firefighting with my interests in photography and sharing information I know with others. I have photographed all but two CFD stations and about half of the front line apparatus and I'll post a few every day or so. Cincinnati was the first professional fire department in the country. CFD has 26 stations, 27 engines, 12 ladder trucks, 12 medics, 2 heavy rescues, 3 EMS supervisors (called "ALS"), 1 safety officer, 4 district chiefs.

Procedures:
Reported structure fire ("Still Alarm"): 2 engines, 3 ladder trucks (3rd due is RAT), 1 heavy rescue, 1 medic, 1 district chief
Confirmed Structure Fire (1 Alarm): add 2 engines (2nd due is Safety Engine), 1 medic, 1 ALS, 1 district chief, safety officer

The first batch of stations I'm going to post I have to break up into multiple posts because I have more pictures of them. These are downtown and vicinity, stations 14, 3, 5, and 29. When there's a working structure fire downtown, these four will see full house response and the only units responding that are not from these stations would be the third ladder truck (17 or 19), second district chief (D2 from Sta. 17), and ALS (32 or 34).

 

[LaurenSkye]

Starting with Station 14. Located on Central Ave, the apparatus bays face 5th St. Station 14 is also CFD headquarters. Apparatus housed at Station 14 are Engine 14, Heavy Rescue 14, Zodiac Boat 14, Safety Officer 2, HazMat 14 (staffed by Heavy Rescue crew), and Engine 14B (Bomb Squad staffed by E14).

Photo descriptions:
*Station 14 apparatus bays on 5th St
*Side view of Station 14 from Central Ave with entrance to administrative offices. In the foreground an unknown utility truck towing the zodiac boat. Likely the boat was being returned to the station from the shop. The boat is typically pulled by HR14.
*A peek inside Station 14 from E14's bay. The empty slot on the right side is where the safety officer parks. The apparatus in the center of the picture is the HazMat truck which responds throughout the region.
*Next two pictures are from the side of the building, one being the company logos and the other being a plaque dedicated to Daryl Gordon a firefighter from HR14 who was CFD's most recent LODD.
*Next is Engine 14 a 2009 Spartan/Rosenbauer shown here on an EMS run downtown.
*Heavy Rescue 14 a 2017 Rosenbauer walk-around Rescue. Heavy Rescues respond to reported structure fires, traffic accidents with reported entrapment, elevator rescues, and other special rescue incidents.
*Safety Officer 2 (the only front line Safety Officer), a 2018 Ford F-150. SO2 responds to confirmed structure fires, traffic accidents with reported entrapment, any traffic accident involving a CFD apparatus regardless of severity of whether there are any injuries.
*Spare Heavy Rescue using the "52" placard as homage to the fact that HR14 was once designated as Squad 52.

 

[LaurenSkye]

Station 3 located on East 9th St is first due to Great American Ballpark. 3s are also first due to nearby Mt. Adams neighborhood. Ladder 3 and Medic 3 are first due for their respective apparatus all over downtown. Station 3 is home to Engine 3, Ladder 3, Medic 3, District Chief 1, Boat 3 (staffed by L3 crew).

Photos:
*Station 3 (two pictures). The engine and ladder shown in the second picture are both spares.
*Station 3 logo on the front of the station.
*Engine 3 and Ladder 3 both 2015 Rosenbauer Commanders
*Medic 3 is a Ford/Horton as are all frontline CFD medics now
*Another picture of Medic 3 this time on an evening run at The Banks.
*District 1 shown on a working fire in 32s first due area across the street from Cincinnati Children's Hospital
*Spare ladder tuck, an early 2000s E-One, operating as Ladder 3
*Lastly, a picture I'm particularly proud of showing Engine 3 on an EMS run at Smale Riverfront Park. In the background is the majestic Roebling Suspension Bridge, designed by the same person who designed the Brooklyn Bridge, this is essentially a prototype for the Brooklyn Bridge.

 

[LaurenSkye]

The last ones for today are Stations 5 and 29. Station 5 is a single engine station, located in Over-the-Rhine. Their first in area is geographically fairly small but is a mix of poor, crime riddled neighborhoods and a hipster paradise. Of all of the stations I photographed this one is the one I most felt I had to snap the picture and then get out of the area. Just a couple of days ago, three children and one adult were shot in a drive-by shooting just a block away from station 5.

Station 29 is located in the West End neighborhood, also a poor, crime-riddled neighborhood. The blue and orange color scheme is new and represents the FC Cincinnati soccer team who's stadium is located on edge of the 29s area. Station 29 is also home to the fire training tower.

Photos:
*Station 5 on McMicken Ave
*Engine 5, a 2019 E-One Cyclone. The 2019 Cyclones were the first to return to the all red colors instead of red and white.
*Station 29 on Liberty St at Linn St (parked in front is ALS 32 just stopping by for a visit)
*Engine 29, a Rosenbauer Commander
*Ladder 29, a 2007 Seagrave, one of three of its kind which are the only Seagraves in CFD fleet.
*Medic 29, a Ford/Horton
*Fire training tower adjacent to Station 29
*Two training trucks, the second of which was purchased from the suburban Sharonville FD.

 

[LaurenSkye]

Moving uptown today to the 19s, 23s, 32s, and 34s. Engine 19 and Engine 34 share first in duties to The University of Cincinnati main campus. Station is located in Short Vine Entertainment District just east of the University of Cincinnati campus and is home to Engine 19, Ladder 19, and Medic 19. The Ladder and Medic are both first in for their respective units at the UC main campus. The 19s house is also first due to the University of Cincinnati medical campus and hospital.

Station 34 is CFD's third oldest active fire station having been built in 1906. It's located in the beautiful Clifton Gaslight District and is home to Engine 34 and ALS 34. ALS 34 is an EMS Supervisor and was originally located at Station 2 in the city's far north end where it ran as the only EMS Supervisor. The unit was relocated to the 34s in the early 2010's. A second ALS was soon created at Station 32, followed by a third at Station 38 (later moved to 35). The ALS Supervisors respond to reported cardiac arrest or respiratory arrest, shootings, stabbings, confirmed structure fires (a second ALS is dispatched for 2-Alarm fires), reported traffic accidents with possible entrapment, and traffic accidents involving public transit vehicles (regardless of number or extent of injuries first reported).

Photo descriptions:
*Station 19 on Short Vine St with all three front line apparatus showing. An unknown chief stopping by for a visit is parked in front in a spare vehicle. If you zoom in on the Engine in the middle you see the angry Bearcat eyes on the front bumper.
*Firefighter Bearcat statue located in front of Station 19 one of several Bearcat profession statues created.
*Engine 19, a Rosenbauer Commander. The 19s logo can be seen near the rear of the vehicle showing the angry Bearcat eyes with a fire helmet. The wording on the logo says "Corryville" (the neighborhood where they are located) and "Cincinnati".
*Ladder 19 an old E-One ladder truck. The oldest active Ladder truck in the fleet as well as the only ladder truck (excluding spares) without LED overhead lights. The word "Cincinnati" on the side of the ladder is written in the style of the University of Cincinnati logo. The bearcat claw can also been seen on the shop number on the driver's side door.
*Next photo is the same Ladder 19 but with the Breast Cancer Awareness logo that was put on all CFD ladder trucks during the month of October.
*Medic 19 a Ford/Horton
*Station 34 on Ludlow Ave with a spare Engine 34 shown
*Engine 34, a Spartan Rosenbauer
*ALS 34 a Ford F-150 shown here on a run downtown.

 

[LaurenSkye]

The Big Team from Station 23 are located in East Walnut Hills. Their first in area includes everything from large old houses to poor run down buildings in a high crime area to up-and-coming "luxury" apartments and lofts. There are also several high rise residential buildings, some are senior buildings. Much like Downtown and Over-the-Rhine, Walnut Hills is one of the neighborhoods where you go two blocks and you're in an entirely different area. Station 23 is home to Engine 23, Ladder 23, Medic 23, and Zodiac Boat 23 (pulled and staffed by Ladder 23).

Station 32 (nicknamed the Avondale Raiders) is located in the Avondale neighborhood. Another relatively high crime area, especially along the Reading Road corridor. Not as "up-and-coming" as the 23s area. 32s are first due at the Cincinnati Zoo as well as Cincinnati Children's Hospital and the world's largest Ronald McDonald House. Station 32 is home to Engine 32, Ladder 32, ALS 32, Foam Pumper 32 (Foam pumpers are automatically dispatched on semi-truck fires, other incidents as requested), Decon Unit, Mass Casualty Unit, and Trench Trailer. In the rear of Station 32 is a fuel pump for city vehicles.

Photos:
*Station 23 showing all three front line apparatus. All three bays are drive thru, though Medic 23 has to enter from behind the Ladder truck and maneuver to its spot because the boat is parked behind it.
*Ladder 23 a 2007 Seagrave, shown here outside the 19s
*Medic 23 a Ford/Horton, shown here assisting Engine 3 Downtown
*Old Station 23, located across the street from the current station was built in 1889, closed in 1980 upon completion of the current station
*Mural of the first Engine 23 in 1889. This is located on the side of a business a couple of blocks away from Station 23
*Station 32 on Forest Ave in Avondale
*Engine 32, a 2019 E-One with the Avondale Raiders logo on the side
*Ladder 32, a Rosenbauer Commander, shown here at the scene of a working fire across from the Children's Hospital
*ALS 32, a Ford F-150 shown here at the same fire as Ladder 32. This is the same incident as the photo of District 1 I previously posted.

 

[LaurenSkye]

On to the southwest side of town with stations 17, 24, 37, and 50.

Station 24 located on Glenway Ave in West Price Hill and serves West Price Hill and portions of East Price Hill. Their region is largely residential and middle to lower-middle class. The station houses Engine 24, Ladder 24, and Medic 24.

Station 17 is located in Lower Price Hill a neighborhood which sits wedged between the hill of Price Hill and the Mill Creek. It serves Lower Price Hill and the remainder of East Price Hill including the Incline District. Station 17 is home to Engine 17, Ladder 17, Medic 17, Zodiac Boat 17 (pulled and staffed by L17), Foam 17, and District Chief 2. Ladder and Medic 17 are first due for their respective apparatus to the 37s and 50s.

Station 37 is located in Sedamsville and also serves Riverside. Engine 37 is not a very busy company but does get runs. The station is also home to Foam 37 and Boat 37. Now Foam 37 is different than the city's other two foam units. Whereas Foam 17 and Foam 32 are both mid-90's E-One Engines just with foam instead of water, Foam 37 is a Chevrolet/Knapheide apparatus and takes far fewer runs than 17 or 32. I have no information whatsoever on Boat 37, all I know is that it operated at a recent barge fire in 37s first due area. Up until then I didn't even know 37s had a boat. Station 37 is one of only two stations that I was unable to get station photos of and the only one that I was unable to get station or apparatus photos of.

Station 50 is a single engine station and likely the least busy Engine company in the city. It's first due area is quite small, mostly middle class residential. It's second due are is virtually non-existent, just a small portion of the 37s area along River Rd. The 50s portion of River Rd is prone to bad vehicle crashes as cars travel high rates of speed on the road. Sayler Park is truly the 50s neighborhood as it is home to Fire Station 50, Metro Bus Route 50, and US Highway 50. All in one relatively small area.

Photos:
*Station 24 on Glenway Ave. Engine 24 and Ladder 24 can be seen in quarters. Engine 24 shown here is a 2017 Rosenbauer, but has recently been relocated to the 46s and replaced with a brand new E-One. Ladder 24 is also an E-One this one from 2019. I believe it's the only station with new all-red E-One Engine and Ladder. The station was built in 1948 but added onto in 2010.
*Two photos of Station 17 on West 8th St, the second showing the side-facing, lower level apparatus bay that houses District Chief 2.
*Ladder 17, an E-One Typhoon shown here on a fire run Downtown.
*Medic 17, a Ford/Horton shown here on an EMS run at the Government Square Transit Center Downtown.
*Station 50, the only currently operating CFD station that was built as a single engine station. Engine 50, a 2011 Spartan/Rosenbauer can be seen in quarters.

 

[LaurenSkye]

Moving clockwise around the city to the west central area, Stations 12, 21, and 35.

Station 12 is located in the Camp Washington neighborhood which is a mix of residential and industrial. A little further out in the 12s area is more residential, including the Villages at Roll Hill public housing community. 12s were the first due at a 6-Alarm fire earlier this year. Station 12 is home to Engine 12, Medic 12, and the CFD's Mobile Command Truck.

Station 21 is a bit south of the 12s in South Fairmount. The 21s first in area has undergone some changes in recent years as a lot of blight was removed from the Queen City Ave/Westwood Ave corridor and replaced with a park/creek which serves as a stormwater runoff. Station 21 is home to Engine 21, Vent Truck 21, and Decon 21. The Vent truck was purchased from the Point Pleasant Fire District in Northern Kentucky and serves the entire Greater Cincinnati area. Station 21 was previously home to Ladder 21 and Medic 21 both of which moved to the new station 35.

Station 35 is the newest station in the CFD turning 10 years old this year. 35s have one of the largest first in areas in the city and are the busiest as well. So busy, and additional engine company, Engine 1 was established last year at 35s quarters joining Engine 35, Ladder 35, Medic 35, and ALS 35. In 2019, Engine 35 become one of the first companies to receive a new all-red E-One Engine. In 2020, they handed that apparatus down to the 31s and got another new E-One Engine. And in 2021, they handed THAT engine down to the 21s and got yet another new engine. Meanwhile, Engine 1 is using one of the oldest running Engines, an early-2000s E-One. If Engine 1 is going to remain a permanent fixture, no doubt they will likely receive a new apparatus soon.

Photos:
*Station 12 on Spring Grove Ave, with Engine 12 showing
*Engine 12, nicknamed the Mohawk Fire Company, a Rosenbauer Commander, shown here on an EMS run outside the locally famous Camp Washington Chili
*Medic 12, one of the first two of now three all red Ford/Horton medic units, shown here in the Northside neighborhood where 12s are the second due medic.
*Mobile Command 12, shown here at the Taste of Cincinnati festival
*Station 21 on State St, located right next to the second most infamous bridge in Cincinnati, the Western Hills Viaduct. When Ladder 21 and Medic 21 were still around the Medic were park backwards facing the rear of the station.
*Two photos of the new Station 35 on Harrison Ave in Westwood.
*Finally, a picture of the old Station 35 located in the heart of the Westwood Business District. This single engine station is special to me personally because I went to school at a private school approximately a half mile from this station and in both Pre-K and Kindergarten we took walking field trips to this station.

 

[LaurenSkye]

An added note on my previous post, Station 35 having two engines, it's pretty much a certainty that if there's a working fire anywhere in the city one of the engines from station 35 will be used for a move up.

 

[LaurenSkye]

On to the northwest side of town, stations 20, 38, and 51.

Station 20 is located in Northside is home to Engine 20, Ladder 20, and District 3. Northside is a popular neighborhood with modern apartments and popular bars and restaurants. But go a bit further up 20s area and you come across Colerain Ave. The road is notorious for bad crashes due to the fact that, if you're traveling south, it's downhill with very few traffic lights and almost no driveways as it travels through Mt. Airy Forest, so speeding is quite common. Ladder 20 is also first due ladder truck to both the 51s and 38s.

Station 38 is nestled in the Spring Grove Village neighborhood. Engine 38 is housed here and for a short while in the 2010s an ALS supervisor was housed here as well until being moved to the new Station 35. A bulk of Engine 38's runs are up in the Winton Terrace public housing neighborhood, though a few large businesses including an ink producing company and a steel fabricator. Additionally a busy part of I-75 falls in the 38s area.

Station 51 is located in the College Hill neighborhood and serves College Hill and part of Mt. Airy. It's the second newest station in the city, built in 2009. Station 51 is home to Engine and Medic 51 and is also known to house spare apparatus. Medic 51 is first due to most of the 20's and 38's area.

Photos:
*Station 20 on Blue Rock St with Engine and Ladder 20 both visible
*Engine 20, a 2020 E-One, one of the new all red apparatus
*Ladder 20, a 2017 Rosenbauer Commander
*Station 38, one of five active stations built before 1910. Engine 38 showing in the picture.
*Engine 38, an early 2010s Spartan/Rosenbauer, shown here Downtown likely attending a meeting or hearing at City Hall nearby.
*Station 51 on Hamilton Ave
*Medic 51, a Ford/Horton shown here leaving quarters for a run.

 

[LaurenSkye]

Now to meet the kings and queens of the north. Stations 2, 8, and 9.

Just by eyeballing it, it's hard to tell whether Station 2 is the farthest north station or if Station 51 is, but 2s area reaches the farthest north. Station 2 is located in the Carthage neighborhood and serves Carthage, Hartwell, Roselawn, and part of Bond Hill. The 2s are home to Engine 2, Ladder 2, and Medic 2. Station 2 was the original home of CFD's first ALS Supervisor, then dubbed "Rescue 2". The unit was moved to station 34 and renamed ALS 34 in 2011.

Station 8 is located in the appropriately named Pleasant Ridge neighborhood. What's not so pleasant though is the fact that this fire station is second on the list of city owned buildings that are in desperate need of repair or replacement. I will share links to news articles about this situation. Station 8 is home solely to Engine 8. Ladder trucks to the 8s area have to come from the 2s or 31s, medics from the 2s, 46s, or 9s. Engine 8 serves Pleasant Ridge and Kennedy Heights neighborhoods.

When Station 9 was built in 2009 it was the first new fire station in 27 years. It replaced an old, smaller station which also housed a police substation but is now the Black Firefighters Association building. The current Station 9 is located in North Avondale and is home to Engine 9, Medic 9, and Heavy Rescue 9.

Photos:
*Station 2, located on Seymour Ave. Ladder 2, a 2019 E-One Cyclone can be seen in quarters.
*Front view of Station 8, located on Montgomery Rd. Engine 8 seen in quarters.
*Side view of Station 8
*Engine 8, a 2009 Spartan/Rosenbauer, shown here downtown for a meeting
*Station 9 on Reading Road
*Engine 9 a 2011 Spartan/Rosenbauer
*Medic 9, a 2022 Ford/Horton, one of three current medics with the new all red color scheme
*Heavy Rescue 9, a 2018 Rosenbauer Commander, shown here on a structure fire in the 32s area

 

[LaurenSkye]

Here are two news articles talking about the need for repair and replacement of city owned buildings. Both articles specifically mention both Fire Station 8 and Station 49 as well as the city's fleet maintenance garage.

Cincinnati faces hundreds of millions in repair costs to old fire stations, garages, rec centers

Leaking roofs, broken air conditioning systems and floors that are in danger of collapse. These are the working conditions inside many older city of Cincinnati buildings including fire stations, recreation centers and municipal garages.

www.wcpo.com

Is Cincinnati a 'slumlord' to its old buildings with millions needed for repairs?

Fire Station 49 in Madisonville was built in 1910, when firefighters traveled by horse and buggy. Except for modest updates over the years, the building hasn’t changed much.

www.wcpo.com

 

[LaurenSkye]

Before we move it on up to the east side, I wanted to share some pictures I captured in the past couple of days of spare medics using Ford/Emergency Vehicles Plus Remount apparatus. These medics were common in the 2010's and have now all been taken out of front line service with the addition of the most recent all-red Ford/Hortons.

 

[LaurenSkye]

And now the beasts from the east, stations 7, 18, 31, 46, and 49. One thing all of these have in common is that Medic 46 is the first due Medic to all of these. Medic 46 is probably one of the higher miles per run medic units in the city especially since runs to the 49s area could see them transporting up to Jewish Hospital in the near north suburbs, runs out the 7s area could see them transporting out to Mercy Anderson Hospital in the east suburbs. And any of their runs could see them transporting to the uptown hospitals such as University (for serious trauma) or Children's.

Station 46 was built in 1908 and is located on the beautiful Hyde Park Square business district. 46s is probably the overall most affluent area for a first due fire company in Cincinnati. I don't have any photos of it but Engine 46 recently traded in their 2004 E-One Engine for a hand-me-down 2017 Rosenbauer Commander received from the 24s. For a while they had been using a spare late-2000s Spartan Rosenbauer, so their substitute was newer than their main apparatus for a while until the brand new one arrived.

Station 31 is located in the Oakley neighborhood which is a mix of residential and retail in the form of both small business and big box retail stores and chain restaurants. Station 31 is home to Engine 31, Ladder 31, and District 4.

Station 49 is located in the Madisonville neighborhood and is one of the oldest fire stations in the city (along with Station 37 both built in 1900) and near the top of the list for needing repair and replacement seeing as when the station was built the fire department had horses not trucks (see articles in earlier post). Station 49 is home solely to Engine 49.

Station 18 is located at the Lunken Municipal Airport in the city's East End neighborhood and is home to Engine 18, Ladder 18, Boat 18 (pontoon boat), ARFF 18, Spare ARFF Truck, Mass Casualty 18, Tanker 18, and Mask Service Unit. The 18s first due area is probably the second most affluent in the city behind Engine 46's. Ladder 18 is likely the least busy Ladder truck in the city and also likely has the highest percentage of non-EMS runs of any ladder truck if not any company is general as their first due area is rather small, not densely populated, plus Engine 18 is first out when available. Ladder 18 provides essential ladder service to Mt. Washington in addition to staffing the ARFF truck.

Station 7 is located in the Mt. Washington neighborhood in the city's southeast side. Station 7 is a single engine. Station 7 is another old station built in 1937.

Photos:
*Station 46 in Hyde Park Square
*Medic 46, a 2023 Ford/Horton shown here in the 8s area returning from a run.
*Station 31 showing District 4, Engine 31, and a spare Ladder 31.
*Engine 31, a 2019 E-One received from the 35s, shown here in Over-the-Rhine for an unknown reason possibly on a move up from a structure fire.
*Ladder 31, a 2011 Spartan/Rosenbauer, shown here doing some training with a training class, near Station 46.
*Station 49 in Madisonville
*Ladder 18, a 2007 Seagrave, shown here downtown for a meeting at City Hall
*A rare look at Mass Casualty 18. The truck is a 2006 Ford, the trailer is a 2011 Hackney. Shown here at the Taste of Cincinnati festival Downtown.
*Mass Casualty ATV units
*Station 7 on Sutton Ave. Zoom in to peek inside and see Engine 7, a 2003 E-One. They received this apparatus in 2019 from Engine 5, prior to that they had been using a 2006 Sutphen, so they traded into an older truck. It ties Engine 1 as the oldest engines in front line service with the only older truck being the Boat 3 Tow Unit.

 

[Extra One & One]

I believe that’s all 26 stations! Interesting, Thanks

 

[CFDMarshal]

How many stations did Cincinnati have at its peak?

 

[fdhistorian]

How many stations did Cincinnati have at its peak?

53 Stations, 55 Engines, 16 Ladders, 2 Water Towers (1914-1917)

 

[LaurenSkye]

I've finished the Cincinnati fire stations, now I have one last post of the Cincinnati Fire Museum, and two memorials.

The fire museum is located Downtown in an old fire station. It's a great educational place for students to learn fire safety as well as history. It's said to have the most comprehensive firefighting history in the United States one of the best collections of firefighting artifacts in the United States including fire engines from the early 19th century until the 1950s.

The Cincinnati fire memorial is located diagonal across the street from station 14 on Central Ave. It includes a statue, large ground plaque, as well as numerous smaller plaques representing each CFD station.

The Patrick Wolterman Memorial Park is located in the College Hill neighborhood, a few blocks from CFD Station 51 and is privately owned and dedicated to Patrick Wolterman, a College Hill neighborhood. Wolterman was working for the Hamilton Fire Department in nearby Butler County when he was killed in the line of duty.

Photos:
*Front and rear of the Cincinnati Fire Museum
*Firefighters Memorial sculpture
*Main Memorial plaque
*Station 3's plaque one of 26 representing CFD
*Top of Patrick Wolterman memorial statue
*Front of Patrick Wolterman Statue Honoring firefighters. The other two sides (not pictured) say "Our" and "Heroes" with an engraved Cincinnati Police Department logo and engraved logos of the military branches.