Station One
Fire Station #1 is the City’s largest and busiest firehouse. It was originally built in 1967 at the same time as the adjacent Fire Administration Building.
The Fire Administration building was torn down in July 2013 and reopened in the new Ovation building on Dayton Street in December 2015.
Fire Station #1 is a double-company house and the home base for the Madison Fire Department's Lake Rescue Team.
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Fire Station 1Serving the downtown area, including the Capitol Square and UW-Madison campus. -
Ralph E. Chamberlin IIThe 24-foot Lake Assault rescue boat is named after a founding member of the MFD Lake Rescue Team. -
Station 1 Apparatus BayFire Station 1 is the home of Ladder Company 1, Engine Company 1, and the MFD’s Lake Rescue Team. -
Daniel P. Parkinson Memorial BuildingStation 1 is dedicated to the memory of Firefighter Daniel Parkinson, who died in the line of duty in 1966. -
Command Car 31The Command Car is staffed by an Officer In Charge and a Chief's Aide. -
Engine 1 OfficeThe Engine company's officer uses this office to write reports and conduct station business. -
Station 1 Memorial MooseThis was a prized possession of Lt. K-Tal Johnson, who died in 2008. His family donated it to the department in his memory. -
Station 1 KitchenThe engine company, ladder company, Officer In Charge, and Chief's Aide dine together every day. -
Station 1 MealtimeCooking for ten is always a team effort. -
OIC's OfficeThe Officer In Charge and Chief's Aide oversee the department's daily scheduling, resource allocation, and serve as incident commander during significant emergency calls. -
Station 1 Sleeping QuartersEach firefighter has a bed, study area, and closet space. -
Station 1 Workout RoomFirefighters use the workout room to stay in shape. The stair climber is a popular machine, given downtown Madison's numerous high-rise buildings. -
EMS BikesEMS bikes stored at Station 1 are used for events such as Ironman, Madison Marathon, and other City events that require mobility within high-density areas.
Equipment
- Engine 1 – a 2016 Pierce Quantum Pumper. It has a 1,250 gallons-per-minute fire pump and a complement of ground ladders, fire hose, and tools. In addition, Engine 1 carries emergency medical equipment including a defibrillator, oxygen, and immobilization gear.
- Ladder 1 – a 2011 Pierce Quantum 105-foot aerial ladder with water tower, ground ladders, a 1,500 gallons-per-minute pump with 250-gallon booster tank, attack and supply fire hose, hand tools, and extrication equipment.
- Car 31 – a 2015 Suburban LT. The Command car is used by the Officer in Charge (OIC) to respond to significant incidents including structure fires, rollover vehicle crashes requiring extrication, and other incidents requiring the intervention of the Department’s Special Teams
- Lake Rescue SCUBA 1 –
- 2003 F250 equipment vehicle which carries SCUBA and ice rescue gear and personnel;
- 24-foot 2015 Lake Assault Rescue Boat - Marine One, fully equipped with state-of-the-art RADAR, SONAR, and FLIR thermal imaging system. It has a 500 gallon-per-minute attack pump for fire suppression.
- Utility 1 – 2002 GMC3500 Utility Truck used to tow the Lake Assault boat to emergency calls
- Car 52 – a 2004 Chevy pick-up truck designated for the on-duty Captain
- 16-foot Tracker Jon Boat-Marina Two – Auxilliary fire-rescue boat equipped with fire pump.
Daily Staffing
The double-company personnel requirement at Station #1 includes:
- 2 Lieutenants, one for the ladder and one for the engine
- 2 Apparatus Engineers (drivers), one for the ladder and one for the engine
- 4 Firefighters, two for the ladder and two for the engine
- 1 OIC. This is a member of the Command Staff (Assistant or Division Chief) assigned to Car 31 for on-scene incident management.
- 1 Chief's Aide assisting the OIC and driving Car 31
- 1 Captain
- The Lake Rescue Team: 57 certified rescue divers (6 divers on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year)
Station One News
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April 25, 2020
'Because Of You…’ A Tribute to the First Women of MFD
Back (L-R): Rory Ward, Bev Buhr, Denise Sullivan, Laura Smith Front (L-R): Jan Jefferson, Pam Jacobson, Marcia Holtz Not pictured: Mary Freitag Forty years ago today, history was made at the Madison Fire Department. Eight women graduated the Fire Academy, becoming the first women ever to serve on the MFD. Read more » -
March 4, 2020
Local 11-Year-Old Continues Quest To Get Pet Oxygen Masks For Every Fire Department
The Madison Fire Department is now equipped with two sets of new pet oxygen masks thanks to an ambitious 11-year-old animal lover. Finn Sullivan of DeForest, WI is on a mission to make sure every fire department in Wisconsin is equipped with these specialized masks. In January, he sent a letter to Madison Fire Chief Steven Davis explaining his goal. Read more » -
February 19, 2020
Separate Lake Rescue Incidents Prompt Call To 'Get the Lead Out' Of Our Lakes
The Lake Rescue Team rescued this tundra swan on January 12. It later died of lead poisoning. Read more » -
December 20, 2019
DHS Brings 'Resilient Wisconsin' Campaign To Fire Admin and Station 1
The Madison Fire Department’s Administrative headquarters and Fire Station 1 played host to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) and Governor Tony Evers this week. The DHS invited first responders from all over the state to share their stories and experiences in a video campaign for the Resilient Wisconsin program. This program is designed to help first responders and others who are regularly exposed to traumatic events in the course of their work. Governor Evers was also interviewed for the project. Read more » -
November 8, 2019
Engine 1 Helps Woman Who Dropped Keys Down Parking Ramp Grate
Engine Co. 1 made one woman’s day last week after she accidentally dropped her keys down a parking ramp grate near Pinckney and Dayton Streets. The crew had just freed up from an EMS call at the YWCA downtown when they were approached by the distraught citizen. The keys, they learned, had fallen 30 feet. But Engine 1 was up for the challenge. Read more »