Ribbon cut on new Boston Fire Department firehouse in Roxbury

Mayor Kim Janey, Fire Commissioner John Dempsey and Boston Fire Department firefighters today celebrated the ribbon cutting for the first new firehouse built in the City of Boston in over 30 years. The construction of Engine 42, Rescue 2, District 9 Firehouse in Roxbury is a $23.5 million investment in the City’s community and emergency services. The City of Boston Public Facilities Department (PFD), in collaboration with the Boston Fire Department (BFD), worked closely with Dore & Whittier Architects and Boston Building and Bridge on design and construction. The design focuses on both emergency response for the neighborhood and the health and wellness of firefighters.  

“I am honored to be part of bringing the first new firehouse in three decades to this community. This building represents an important investment in essential neighborhood services. Emergency responders deserve the highest standard of health and safety measures, and I am proud this new building will take their wellbeing into account,” said Janey. “I look forward to many years of this firehouse serving as a place for our firefighters to live, train, and bravely serve the residents of Roxbury and the entire city.” 

A priority for the new firehouse is the health and safety of Boston Fire Department firefighters. As part of the design and construction, the building minimizes particulate contaminants from traveling to the living quarters of the building. The new building will be segmented into three zones (hot, warm and cold) to keep carcinogens from circulating throughout the house.

The completed Engine 42, Rescue 2, District 9 firehouse includes: 

• Three extended apparatus bays, allowing more BFD tactical rescue equipment to be housed at the location
• 25 seat training room, allowing BFD to keep tactical rescue companies up to date on latest training, and keeping them closer to their houses, instead of training on Moon Island
• Training deck on the roof, confined space training prop, and training stair tower to allow for simulated training exercises onsite 
• Fitness room to promote wellness
• 14 bunk rooms to house two companies
• Energy efficient building designed to LEED Silver requirements
• White roof that will be solar ready
• High efficiency mechanical systems, LED lighting 

Additionally, the City of Boston is commissioning an artist to create a long-term public artwork to complement the construction of the Engine 42 fire station. This project is funded by the City's Percent for Art program, which commissions one percent of the City's capital borrowing for the creation of public art. The artwork at Engine 42 will be a site-specific, impactful, focal design feature that aims to enrich the connection between the Boston Fire Department and the surrounding Egleston and Roxbury communities. 

The FY22-26 Capital Plan includes other health and safety improvements to firehouse projects as a result of recent programming. Starting in FY16, the Fire Department, in conjunction with the Public Facilities Department, studied best practices for firehouse design. Key design changes include defined zones within the firehouse to prevent contamination of living areas, along with improved personal and gear cleaning facilities. The results of this planning are reflected in the projects to replace firehouses for Engine 42 in Roxbury and Engine 17 in Dorchester, at a total investment of $48 million. The firehouses for Engine 3 in the South End and Engine 37 on Huntington Avenue are also scheduled to be replaced.

The 2.5 story building is 23,000 square feet, replacing the previous single story, 6,400 square foot firehouse, which opened in 1952. As the firehouse was under construction, operations had been reallocated to 121 Armory Street, which is 0.2 miles from the fire station.