Station Three
Built in 1954, Fire Station 3 is the oldest working firehouse in Madison.
The station is located at 1217 Williamson Street on the near-east side and houses an engine and medic crew.
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Fire Station 3Serving the near east side, including East Washington Ave. and the Willy Street area. -
Fire PoleStation 3 is one of the few firehouses that still has the classic fire pole. -
Gear RacksThese racks store turnout gear for all the firefighters and paramedics at Station 3 on a total of three shifts. -
Responding From Willy StreetFirefighters have 60 seconds from time of dispatch to put on their gear and be out the door. -
Inside Engine 3Engine Company 3 responds from 1217 Williamson Street. -
Inside Engine 3The Apparatus Engineer acts as driver of the fire engine. The lieutenant sits in the front passenger seat. Staying hydrated is important on this job! -
Station 3 KitchenThe firefighters and paramedics of Fire Station 3 dine together every day. -
A Part Of the NeighborhoodThe firefighters and paramedics of Station 3 are a beloved part of the neighborhood. -
Hockey Hall of FameThe Madison Fire Hockey Club keeps its memorabilia at Station 3. -
Station 3 Sleeping QuartersMFD firefighters and paramedics work 24-hour shifts, requiring them to live at the fire station while on duty.
Equipment
- Engine 3 – a 2015 Pierce Engine built on a Quantum Chassis with a 500-gallon water tank and a 1250 gallons-per-minute Hale pump. This apparatus is equipped with a Class A foam system, telescoping deck gun, fire hose, and tools. In addition, Engine 3 carries emergency medical equipment including a defibrillator, oxygen, and immobilization gear.
- Engine 41 – a 2006 Pierce Engine built on a Quantum Chassis with a 500-gallon water tank and a 1250 gallons-per-minute Hale pump. This apparatus is equipped with a telescoping deck gun, fire hose, and tools and is a reserve engine for the City.
- Medic 3 – a 2016 Ford E-450 with a Braun Advanced Life Support patient compartment. It carries a full complement of advanced life support medicine and equipment including a defibrillator, oxygen, and immobilization gear. To aide in patient and paramedic safety, it operates with a Stryker power-loading cot.
Daily Staffing
- 1 Lieutenant, station officer
- 1 Apparatus Engineer (driver) operating the engine
- 2 Firefighters staffing the engine
- 2 Paramedics staffing the ambulance
Fire stations develop a specific identity over time. Surrounded by a lively neighborhood with a funky vibe, Station #3 has a true community presence. A tradition among the firefighters that are assigned there is the evening “dangle.” After dinner, the crew will often sit outside the bay doors and converse with the public. It’s not uncommon to give an impromptu tour to kids and parents as they walk by. Politicians, business owners, and street people have stopped to say hello. The crew has even been serenaded by a cellist!
On its station logo, Firehouse #3 claims its place as the City's oldest working fire station.
Station Three 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 » -
January 3, 2020
Ten New Firefighters Join the Ranks
The Madison Fire Department celebrates the graduation of Recruit Class 9 and welcomes our newest members to the field! In a ceremony at the Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center on December 20, 2019, ten new recruits were sworn in and issued badges, signifying their place as the MFD’s newest firefighters. Read more » -
October 31, 2019
Station 3 Helps Man Experiencing Car Trouble Next Door
Firefighters at Station 3 ('B' shift) came to the aid of a man who was distressed after a wheel broke off his van in the parking lot next door this week. Read more »