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29 September 2023
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Fire stations of the world: Royse City Fire Station 1, Texas, US
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Royse City Fire Station 1 is a 10 480 square foot facility located near the intersection of State Highway 66 and Erby Campbell Blvd. Station 1 started construction in July 2020 and was placed into service on 1 April 2021.
Station 1 features four bays with three being drive through, four dorm rooms, a training room, fitness centre and two offices. Station 1 houses Engine 81, Engine 82, Brush 81 and Battalion 1.
Royse City was presented with a unique building opportunity when a local brewery approached it about buying the city’s only fire station. Since the city intended to construct a new fire station and could support business in its community, it embraced the business deal. The transaction left the city operating its fire station out of a temporary location and required a fast-tracked design and construction for a new fire station.
The firefighters worked directly with the design team to program and plan a new facility. The planning phase quickly revealed that the new station needed to allow easy expansion, including additional dormitory space.
The team designed a station that has four four-person dormitories for the initial construction, with a plan to add five dormitories. One of the existing dormitories was equipped with the required plumbing to convert it to a future staff toilet when the city adds new dormitory space.
The building itself serves as a community resource. The public lobby allows access to a 25-person training room, with- out entering the station, for use by other city services and local groups.
The kitchen is located close by for catering needs. It’s equipped with a combination of stainless steel and solid surface counters, full-height splashes, a serving bar, deep sinks, high-end appliances and individual shift lockers to accommodate cooking needs.
The facility was planned for short runs from the living and sleeping areas to the bays for quick deployment and positively pressurised vestibules protect it from contaminants. There are three drive-through bays and one back-in bay. Bay spaces that lack an airlock are positively pressurised. Large exhaust fans that are tied to the bay door operation, thermostats and carbon monoxide detectors manage vehicle exhaust and general bay ventilation.
The Royse City Fire Department provides emergency and non-emergency services to an area of approximately 62 square miles with a residential population of approximately 25 000. The Royse City Fire Department responds to over 2,500 calls for service annually.
The Royse City Fire Department was created in early 1911. From 1911 to 1999, they were an all-volunteer department. In 1999, the city hired the first paid Fire Chief. Fast forward to 2018, where staffing included a fulltime fire marshal, fire inspector and two paid firefighters.
Royse City Fire now operates as a paid department with a fire chief, battalion chief over operations, three captains, seven fulltime firefighters, and a part-time pool of 20 firefighters spread out over three shifts.
Sources: Royse City Fire Department, Brinkley Sargent Wiginton (BSW) Architects
Station 1 features four bays with three being drive through, four dorm rooms, a training room, fitness centre and two offices. Station 1 houses Engine 81, Engine 82, Brush 81 and Battalion 1.
Royse City was presented with a unique building opportunity when a local brewery approached it about buying the city’s only fire station. Since the city intended to construct a new fire station and could support business in its community, it embraced the business deal. The transaction left the city operating its fire station out of a temporary location and required a fast-tracked design and construction for a new fire station.
The firefighters worked directly with the design team to program and plan a new facility. The planning phase quickly revealed that the new station needed to allow easy expansion, including additional dormitory space.
The team designed a station that has four four-person dormitories for the initial construction, with a plan to add five dormitories. One of the existing dormitories was equipped with the required plumbing to convert it to a future staff toilet when the city adds new dormitory space.
The building itself serves as a community resource. The public lobby allows access to a 25-person training room, with- out entering the station, for use by other city services and local groups.
The kitchen is located close by for catering needs. It’s equipped with a combination of stainless steel and solid surface counters, full-height splashes, a serving bar, deep sinks, high-end appliances and individual shift lockers to accommodate cooking needs.
The facility was planned for short runs from the living and sleeping areas to the bays for quick deployment and positively pressurised vestibules protect it from contaminants. There are three drive-through bays and one back-in bay. Bay spaces that lack an airlock are positively pressurised. Large exhaust fans that are tied to the bay door operation, thermostats and carbon monoxide detectors manage vehicle exhaust and general bay ventilation.
The Royse City Fire Department provides emergency and non-emergency services to an area of approximately 62 square miles with a residential population of approximately 25 000. The Royse City Fire Department responds to over 2,500 calls for service annually.
The Royse City Fire Department was created in early 1911. From 1911 to 1999, they were an all-volunteer department. In 1999, the city hired the first paid Fire Chief. Fast forward to 2018, where staffing included a fulltime fire marshal, fire inspector and two paid firefighters.
Royse City Fire now operates as a paid department with a fire chief, battalion chief over operations, three captains, seven fulltime firefighters, and a part-time pool of 20 firefighters spread out over three shifts.
Sources: Royse City Fire Department, Brinkley Sargent Wiginton (BSW) Architects
