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 2020 Pierce Ascendant 107-foot tiller aerial ladder with computerized hydraulics. Has a 1500 gallon-per-minute flow rate when flowing the aerial master stream via relay from another engine.
- 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 –
- 2020 Midwest Rescue Airboat, named "Yapper," featuring a 427 ci LS7 650hp engine with Holley Dominator EFI system, twin axle system, galvanized design, and 9" Garmin 922 touch screen mapping system.
- 24-foot 2015 Lake Assault Rescue Boat - Marine One, named "The Ralph Chamberlin II," 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 – Auxiliary 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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January 6, 2021
Lieutenant Steve Tennant Retires After 25 Years of Service
Lieutenant Steve Tennant celebrated with his crew before signing off from Ladder Co. 2 one last time on Monday, January 4, 2021. He did so with gratitude for his colleagues, and for a career that never got old during his two and a half decades with the department. Read more » -
January 4, 2021
MFD Bids Farewell to Retiring Apparatus Engineer Jon Byrd
Apparatus Engineer Jon Byrd retires this week, capping off 22 years of service with the City of Madison. Read more » -
December 1, 2020
New Heavy-Duty Tiller Aerial Ladder Now In Service At Fire Station 1
For the first time in nearly forty years, a tractor-drawn aerial ladder truck enters the Madison Fire Department's fleet, bringing back old technology to meet modern needs. Read more » -
October 20, 2020
November Election Ballot Drop Boxes Now Available At a Fire Station Near You!
Early voting and absentee voting are underway in Madison, and the City has made a number of ballot drop boxes available for your convenience. If you have a ballot that has been completed and signed by a witness, you can drop it off at your nearest fire station or Elver Park. Read more » -
October 11, 2020
Captain (Ret.) Gil Gonzales Reflects on His 28-Year Career at MFD
Hazmat Team, Children & Fire Program Co-Founder Left a Legacy The City of Madison and communities across the nation are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, which celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. Read more »