Fire company #5 moves in with company #3 temporarilywww.wxix.com/Global/story.asp?S=11916472Posted: Feb 01, 2010 10:15 PM Updated: Feb 02, 2010 7:08 AM
By Stefano DiPietrantonio –
CINCINNATI, OH (FOX19) - Cincinnati Fire Company #5 is in a temporary, new home now with Fire Company #3, as some serious upgrades get made to their old digs.
It's going to make the business of firefighting very interesting for the two companies. The crew from #5 and their truck have moved out of one of the busiest fire stations in the country, but now, they're under the same roof as #3.
Michael Washington, Public Information Officer for the Cincinnati Fire Department, noted the signs taped to the front doors, telling folks the station is closed and to call 911 if you have an emergency.
"These personnel have to occupy the station just like if you were at home," Washington said. "So we decided to give them a temporary new home with Engine #3, Ladder #3 at Ninth and Broadway."
Station #5 was built in 1959. The station is long overdue for some mechanical and electrical upgrades.
"This fire station was rebuilt on the same property, so this is the newest Station #5," Washington said. "Before this addition, there was another addition here when the fire company was organized back in the, I believe, 1870's."
Station #5 has been among the busiest stations in the country.
"Back in the 1980's, Engine #5 at one point and time, one year responded to 5,553 responses which puts them at one or two in the country at that time," Washington said.
Company #5 is surrounded by four other fire stations.
"Usually the second-due engine or the second ladder company in the area normally gets over here in about a minute after engine 5 arrives," Washington said. "So, it shouldn't be too bad on response time."
Washington said most Cincinnati fire companies average around 25 calls a day, so the fire truck is pulling in and out of their garages a lot.
"It makes wear and tear on our garage doors quite an issue," Washington said.
Company #5 is going to be out of it's building for at least 122 days. That's about four months of being on a rival company's home turf.
"There's a rivalry between those two stations," Washington said.
"As yet to be determined," Washington wryly grinned when asked if they two companies were getting along. "We'll have to see how things work out over there."
The "rivalry" between the two stations has been going on about 157 years.
"To be continued...," Washington said. "To be continued."
So for the two fire companies, it's game on and that's a good thing. They're competing for better response times and keeping you safe. Washington said, for anyone who lives near McMicken and Vine, still call 911 in case of emergency.
Police will be making extra patrols to make sure the building is safe while the renovations take place.