Firehouses

The DC Fire and EMS Department currently has 33 firehouses, one marine firefighting unit, and a Fire Prevention Division across Washington DC’s eight wards. These firehouses host 33 engine companies, 16 ladder companies, 3 heavy duty rescue squads, a hazardous materials unit, 3 fireboats, 17 advanced life support medic units, and 22 basic life support ambulances. Each of these units and their assigned firehouse has played an important role in protecting lives and property throughout the Department’s history. And those who have served feel a special pride in each of their assignments. The location and appearance of each firehouse over the years has evolved but their dedication and critical life saving role in the Nation’s Capital has remained constant. This exhibit shows each firehouse over the course of the history of the Department.

Department Headquarters

Old Department headquarters building on McMillian Drive.
Date: Ca. 1980s
Source: Kelleher Collection

Old Department headquarters building -- the old Grimke School. Date: 1992
Source: DC Fire & EMS Museum Collection

Department Headquarters
Date: 2024
Source: DC Fire and EMS Department

First Georgetown House

Firemen with Firefighting Equipment in Front of the Vigilant Firehouse
1066 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Believed to be the first firehouse within the current boundaries of Washington, DC.

Date: between 1900 and 1920
Source: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

The Vigilant Firehouse today.

Date: 2024
Source: Daniel Johnson

Plaque commemorating a firehouse dog who died of poisoning in 1869.

Date: 2024
Source: Daniel Johnson

Engine Company 1

Engine 1, 2 - Pumpers
1643 K Street, N.W. D.C.
This house was torn down in September 1960 and replaced by a new combined house at 23rd & M St. Date: July 1960
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 1
Truck Company 2
2nd Battalion Chief Headquarters 2225 M. Street NW
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 1
Truck Company 2
Ambulance 1
Medic 1. Date: 2024
Source: DC Fire and EMS Department

Engine Company 2

Old Engine Company 2 and Old DCFD Headquarters.
Date: Ca. Early 20th century
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum
719 12th Street NW

Engine Company 2
Rescue Squad 1
719 12th Street NW
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 2
Rescue Squad 1
Ambulance 2
BFC 6, EMS Supervisor 6
Date: 2024
Source: DC Fire and EMS Department

Engine Company 2
Rescue Squad 1
Ambulance 2
BFC 6, EMS Supervisor 6
Date: 2024
Source: DC Fire and EMS Department

Engine Company 3

Engine Company 3
New Jersey and B Street, SE
Date: Ca. early 20th century
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 3
Truck Number 1, 429 New Jersey Ave, NW
Date: Ca. Early 20th century
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company. 3
Truck Company 1
7th Battalion Chief's Headquarters
Date: Ca. 1960s
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine 3, Medic 3, Ambulance 3
Date: 2013
Source: Firehouse Magazine

Engine Company 4

Engine Company 4
41/2 and Virginia Ave, SW
Date: 1919
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 4
931 R Street NW
Date: Ca. Mid-20th Century
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 4
Ambulance 4
Air Unit 1
BFC 7, EMS Supervisor 7
2135 Sherman Ave, NW
Date: 2024
Source: DC Fire and EMS Department

Engine Company 5

Engine Company 5
Truck Company 5
3412 Dent Place NW
Date: Ca. Mid-20th Century
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 5
Medic 5
3412 Dent Place, NW
Date: 2024
Source: DC Fire and EMS Department

Engine Company 6

Engine Company 6
438 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Date: Ca. Mid-20th Century
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine 6
Date: Ca. 1990s
Source: Bruce Nelson Collection

Big House Reunion
Date: 2024
Source: Jimmy Partridge

Engine Company 7

Old Engine Company 7
Date: 2024 (currently a Bed and Breakfast)
931 R Street, NW
Source: DC Fire and EMS Department

Engine Company 7
Medic 7
1101 Half Street, SW
Date: 2024
Source: DC Fire and EMS Department

Engine Company 8

Engine Company 8
637 North Carolina Ave, SE
Date: 1900
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 8

Date: between 1921 and 1923
Source: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

Engine Company 8
Rescue Squad 3
1520 C Street SE
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 8, Medic 8, Ambulance 8, BFC 2, and EMS Supervisor 2
Date: 2024
Source: Amy Mauro

Engine Company 9

Engine Company 9
1624 U Street NW
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 9
Truck Company 9
Ambulance 9
1617 U Street, NW
Date: 2024
Source: DC Fire and EMS Department

Engine Company 10

Old Engine Company 10
Property Section
1341 Maryland Avenue NE
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 10
Truck Company 13
1342 Florida Avenue NE
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 10
Truck Company 13
Medic 10
1342 Florida Ave, NW
Source: DCPL Photo Archives, DC Preservation League

Engine Company 11

Old Engine 11 at 3119 14th Street, NW. Originally Chemical Company No. 2, it was also the first home of Rescue Squad 2 when that unit was organized but cross staffed by Engine Company 11.
Date: Ca. Mid-20th Century.
Source: Kelleher Collection

Engine Company 11
Truck Company 6
BFC 4, EMS Supervisor 4
Date: 2024
Source: DC Fire and EMS Department

Engine Company 12

Engine Company 12
1st Battalion Chief's Headquarters
1626 North Capitol Street
Source: Washington, DC Fire & EMS Museum

Engine Company 12
Hazardous Materials Unit
Ambulance 12
BFC 1, EMS Supervisor 1
2225 5th Street, NE
Date: 2024
Source: DC Fire and EMS Department

Engine Company 13

Engine Company 13
Truck Company 10
450 6th Street SW
Date: Ca. 1960s.
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 13
Truck Company 10
Ambulance 13
501 4th Street, SW
Date: 2024
Source: DC Fire and EMS Department

Engine Company 14

Engine Company 14
Ambulance 8-4
4801 North Capitol Street, NE
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 14
Medic 14
4801 North Capitol Street, NE
Date: 2024
Source: DC Fire and EMS Department

Engine Company 15

Engine Company 15
3rd Battalion Chief's Headquarters
1345 V Street SE
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 15
Rescue Squad 3
Ambulance 15
BFC 3, EMS Supervisor 3
2101 14th Street, SE
Date: 2024
Source: DC Fire and EMS Department

Engine Company 16

Engine Company 16, Truck Company 3
Lieutenant Clarence Quick, Commanding - Privates (L to R) Stine - White - Kandl - Rhine - Dutrow - Moore and Williamson
Deputy Chief, Logan L. Woolard
Engine Co. No. 16 - Captain Elmer F. Stein, Commanding - Privates (L to R) Perry - Marti - Wilson and Bicksler
Engine Co.No.16
July 1942
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 16
Date: May 22, 1945
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 16
Truck Company 3
6th Battalion Chief's Headquarters
1018 13th Street NW
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 16
Truck Company 3
1018 13th Street, NW
Date: 2024
Source: DC Fire and EMS Department

Engine Company 17

Engine Company 17
1227 Monroe Street NE
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 17
Medic 17
1227 Monroe Street, NW
Date: 1992
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 18

Engine Company 18 (old house) 414 8th Street SE
Truck Company G
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 18
Truck Company 7
Ambulance 18
414 8th Street, SE
Date: 2024
Source: DC Fire and EMS Department

Engine Company 19

Engine Company 19
Pennsylvania Avenue
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 19
Truck Company 16
Ambulance 8-3
2813 Pennsylvania Avenue SE
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 19 Medic 19
Ambulance 19
2813 Pennsylvania Ave, SE
Date: 2024
Source: DC Fire and EMS Department

Engine Company 20

Engine Company 20
Date: August 16, 1926
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 20
Truck Company 12
4300 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 20
Truck Company 12 Ambulance 20
BFC 5, EMS Supervisor 5
4300 Wisconsin Ave, NW
Date: 2024
Source: DC Fire and EMS Department

Engine Company 21

Engine Company 21
Truck Company 9
Ambulance 2
1763 Lanier Place NW
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 21
Medic 21
1763 Lanier Place, NW
Date: 2024
Source: DC Fire and EMS Department

Engine Company 22

Engine Company 22
Truck Company 11
5760 Georgia Avenue NW
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 22
Truck Company 11
Ambulance 22
6823 Georgia Ave, NW
Date: 2024
Source: Architect Magazine

Engine Company 22
Truck Company 11
Ambulance 22
6823 Georgia Ave, NW
Date: 2024
Source: Architect Magazine

Engine Company 23

Engine Company 23
2119 G Street NW
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 23
Ambulance 23
Date: ca. 2023
2119 G Street, NW
Source: DC Fire and EMS Department

Engine Company 24

Engine Company 24
Rescue Squad 2
4th Battalion Chief's Headquarters
3702 Georgia Avenue NW
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 24
Rescue Squad 2
5101 Georgia Ave, NW
Date: ca. 2023
Source: DC Fire and EMS Department

Engine Company 25

Engine Company 25
Truck Company 8
3203 Nichols Avenue SE
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 25
3203 Martin Luther King Ave, SE
Date: 2024
Source: DC Fire and EMS Department

Engine Company 26

Engine Company 26
Truck Company 15
1340 Rhode Island Avenue NE
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 27

Engine Company 27
L. to R.: Warren, Moffitt, Grady, Wilkerson, Grinder, Anderson, Owens, Rollins, Claggett, Martin, Hecht. Gift of Chf. Peterson. Date: ca. 1920
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 27
Gasoline Truck
4201 Minnesota Avenue, NE
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 27
Medic 27
4260 Minnesota Ave, NE
Date: 2024
Source: DC Fire and EMS Department

Engine Company 28

Engine Company 28
3522 Connecticut Ave, NW
Date: ca. 20th century
Source: Washington, DC Fire and EMS Museum

Engine Company 28
Ambulance 28
Cleveland Park Firehouse Before and After Modernization
3522 Connecticut Ave, NW
Source: Courtesy of Elliot H. Stonehill, Cleveland Park Community Association