How to visit a fire station in New York?

If you’re a firefighter or just love firefighting, New York will captivate you. In New York more than anywhere else, firefighters are regarded as true heroes, especially since September 11, 2001. You’ll be impressed by their massive trucks racing down the avenues with their distinctive sirens (watch this video of a fire truck crossing Times Square).
Some of you may also want to visit a firehouse. It’s possible, but there are a few rules to keep in mind.

Rules for visiting a New York firehouse

• Firehouses are not open to the public. You must be clearly invited inside by a firefighter. Never slip in through an open gate hoping no one notices. You might end up talking to the NYPD instead of firefighters.
• To visit a firehouse, politely approach the firefighter on duty. Start a conversation, then ask “is it possible to have a look inside?” If the garage is open, you should be able to get close to the trucks. Always ask permission before taking photos.
• If you see the firehouse in the middle of an emergency response, don’t bother asking. Your chances are much better if the firefighters are cleaning or organizing equipment. In other words, firehouses can only be visited during quiet periods.
• If you’re a firefighter yourself, bring your professional ID. New York firefighters love talking with firefighters from other countries and will welcome you warmly. Bring a patch from your department—you might be able to trade it for an FDNY patch.
• Here’s something else to know: New York firefighters get flooded with visit requests, and some firehouses, especially the large ones in central Manhattan, keep their doors locked. For a better chance of visiting, try smaller units or firehouses in upper Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Queens—areas with fewer tourists.
• If you’d rather not go alone, consider our guided tour focused on New York firefighters. Your guide will show you 5 notable firehouses in Midtown and you’ll have a good chance of meeting firefighters.

New York firehouse addresses

Ready to explore New York’s firehouses? Here are some worth visiting:

• Engine 10, Ladder 10.
  Address: 124 Liberty Street.
  This firehouse sits across from the 9/11 Memorial. It’s often closed because firefighters don’t want to be disturbed by the heavy tourist traffic in the area. But you can admire the beautiful mural of an American flag on the garage doors. On the sides, don’t miss the massive sculpture honoring the 343 firefighters who died on September 11, 2001. A moving place.
• Engine 54, Ladder 4, Battalion 9 Times Square.
  Address: 782 8th Avenue, at the corner of 8th Avenue and 48th Street.
  These firefighters are used to tourists and even sell their company t-shirt! This company lost 15 firefighters on September 11, 2001. This firehouse is also recommended by Bea83, who notes: “They’re really friendly, we got to visit and even take photos.”
• Engine 7, Ladder 1, Battalion 1.
  Address: 100 Duane Street, a few steps from the World Trade Center.
  This firehouse is housed in a beautiful stone building with 3 garages with bright red doors. Filmmakers Jules and Gédéon Naudet were following this firehouse during the September 11, 2001 attacks.
• Engine 205, Hook & Ladder Company 118.
  Address: 74 Middagh Street, in Brooklyn.
  This firehouse sits just under the Brooklyn Bridge on the Brooklyn side. This firehouse lost 8 firefighters on September 11, 2001.
• Squad 1
  Address: 788 Union Street in Brooklyn.
  Being in Brooklyn means you’ll escape the tourist crowds. This small unit lost 12 firefighters on September 11, 2001—a significant portion of its staff at the time.
• Engine 273, Ladder 129.
  Address: 40-18 Union Street, in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens.
  This firehouse has a unique feature: the garage doors display the colors of the Mets baseball team.
• Engine 68, Ladder 49.
  Address: 1160 Ogden Avenue, in the Bronx.
  Another firehouse where you’ll see very few tourists. This firehouse proudly supports the New York Yankees baseball team. You can talk firefighting and baseball at the same time!

Firehouses in photos