Historic fire stations of Birmingham, Alabama facts for kids

Imagine a city growing super fast! That's what happened in Birmingham, Alabama, in the late 1800s and early 1900s. As the city got bigger, it needed more services, especially a strong fire department. Many new fire stations were built between 1910 and 1929. Ten of these old fire stations are so special that they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical buildings! They are all part of something called the Historic Fire Stations of Birmingham Multiple Property Submission.

How Birmingham's Fire Department Grew

Birmingham's very first volunteer fire station started in December 1871. This was soon after the city officially became a city. After a big fire in 1873, the city bought its first fire engine. The modern fire department officially began in 1885 with two stations. By 1890, it had 21 firefighters and 15 horses!

In the early 1900s, Birmingham spent a lot on fire protection and education. Why? Because business leaders in downtown Birmingham wanted excellent fire coverage. This helped keep their insurance costs low. In 1910, Birmingham added many nearby towns, which more than doubled its population. People in these new areas soon wanted better fire protection too. This led to many new stations being built. By 1929, Birmingham had 24 fire stations!

Cool Building Styles of Fire Stations

The fire stations built before 1920 were usually in the main business areas of the suburban towns. Their look matched the shops and offices around them, so they didn't have much fancy decoration.

Stations built after 1920 were mostly in neighborhoods where people lived. These stations were designed in popular styles of the time. Some looked like old Spanish buildings (called Spanish Revival). Others looked like old English country homes (called Tudor Revival). Some even looked like grand, classical buildings (called Beaux-Arts).

Property	Photo	Built	Location	Description
Fire Station No. 3		1927	2210 Highland Ave. 33°30′08″N 86°47′25″W / 33.50222°N 86.79028°W / 33.50222; -86.79028	Station No. 3 was built in 1927 in the fancy Highland Park area. It was designed in a Beaux-Arts style to fit in with the nice homes. It has three large garage doors with decorated arches. It still works as a fire station today!
Fire Station No. 6		1906	317 15th St., N. 33°30′46″N 86°48′48″W / 33.51278°N 86.81333°W / 33.51278; -86.81333	Station No. 6 is the oldest fire station still standing in Birmingham. It was built in 1906. It used to have two arched garage doors, but one is now bricked up. Since 1983, it has been used as the Firehouse Shelter, which helps people who are homeless.
Fire Station No. 10		1927	4120 2nd Ave., S. 33°31′30″N 86°46′27″W / 33.52500°N 86.77417°W / 33.52500; -86.77417	Station No. 10 in the Avondale neighborhood is a one-story Spanish Revival building from 1927. It has two garage doors and a meeting room. Even though it was updated, it still looks like it did when it was built. It was an active station until 2009.
Fire Station No. 11		1910	1250 13th St., N. 33°31′30″N 86°49′24″W / 33.52500°N 86.82333°W / 33.52500; -86.82333	Built in 1910, Station No. 11 is in a working-class area. It has a simple, commercial style. The garage door was on the left, next to the main entrance. It has very few decorations.
Fire Station No. 12		1927	15 57th St., S. 33°32′30″N 86°45′0″W / 33.54167°N 86.75000°W / 33.54167; -86.75000	Station No. 12 in Woodlawn is a Tudor Revival building made of stone. It's shaped like an "L" and has a cool round tower with a spiral staircase. The garage opens to an alley. This station was updated and now houses a church outreach group called the Birmingham Dream Center.
Fire Station No. 15		1929	1345 Steiner Ave., SW. 33°29′25″N 86°51′12″W / 33.49028°N 86.85333°W / 33.49028; -86.85333	Station No. 15 is an urban-style building in a neighborhood. It has a garage door with two entrances next to it. Above the garage door is a fake balcony and a large window.
Fire Station No. 16		1926	1621 Ave. G 33°30′52″N 86°53′34″W / 33.51444°N 86.89278°W / 33.51444; -86.89278	Station No. 16 in Ensley is special because it was a mixed-use station. It had Spanish Revival elements and also served as the community's police station and jail! It has two one-story parts with a courtyard in the middle.
Fire Station No. 19		1925	7713 Division Ave. 33°33′40″N 86°43′37″W / 33.56111°N 86.72694°W / 33.56111; -86.72694	Station No. 19 was built in 1925 after a fire in the community. It's a Romanesque Revival building made of light brown brick and stone. The garage doors are set back and have stone decorations. A public library was built next to it in 1926. This station is still an active fire station!
Fire Station No. 22		1927	3114 Clairmont Ave. 33°30′44″N 86°46′59″W / 33.51222°N 86.78306°W / 33.51222; -86.78306	Station No. 22 was built in 1927 in the Highland Park area. It's a Spanish Revival building with a two-story square tower. It has been changed a lot over the years. A new station opened in 2009, and this old No. 22 was turned into a restaurant and hair salon in 2011.
Wylam Fire Station		1910	NE Corner 8th Ave. and Huron St. 33°30′17″N 86°55′17″W / 33.50472°N 86.92139°W / 33.50472; -86.92139	The Wylam Fire Station is different from many others. It's built in a simple, commercial style with dark red brick. It was built in 1910 when the town of Wylam joined Birmingham. It has large wooden garage doors with cool metal hinges.