Built in 1909, Fire Hall no. 4 is a London cultural heritage site.[1]
The London Fire Department (LFD) provides fire prevention, life preservation, and technical rescue services to the city of London, Ontario, Canada.
History
A volunteer fire department was formed in 1842, two years following the incorporation of the village of London. The first fire station was erected on Carling Street in 1847.[2]
The volunteer department was replaced by the permanent London Fire Department on April 1, 1873, following the Great Fire of London in 1845 which destroyed over 300 buildings. The department has since run 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Firefighters with the London Fire Department are all members of the London Professional Fire Firefighters Association, Local 142 of the IAFF.[3]
Operations
Apparatus
The London Fire Department has a diverse apparatus fleet laid out across the city's 14 fire stations. Various vehicles perform specialized tasks to fight fires, prevent injury, and preserve life.
Stations and Apparatus*
Station #
Serving
Engine Company
Rescue Company
Tanker Company
Truck Company
Haz-Mat Unit
Service Unit
Car Unit
Marine & Zodiac Units
Tech Support Unit
Service Unit
Fire Investigation Unit
Command Unit
1
Downtown and Citywide
(Headquarters)
Engine 1
Truck 1
Haz-Mat 1
Car 1
Service 1
Fire Investigation
Unit 1
Command 1
2
East London
(Old East Village)
Engine 2
Engine 21
Engine 22
Engine 24
Engine 25
Rescue 2
Tanker 25
Truck 20
Marine & Zodiac 2
Command 2
3
Southwest London
(Westmount)
Engine 3
Marine & Zodiac 3
4
Central London
(Bishop Hellmuth District)
Engine 4
5
Southeast London
(Pond Mills)
Engine 5
Tanker 5
Tech Support 1
6
West London
Engine 6
Truck 6
Command 6
7
Northeast London
(Huron Heights)
Engine 7
Truck 7
8
North London
(University/Masonville)
Engine 8
Service 8
9
South London
(White Oaks/Westminster)
Engine 9
Truck 9
Command 9
10
East London
(Argyle)
Engine 10
11
Lambeth
Engine 11
Tanker 11
12
Southwest London
(Byron)
Engine 12
13
Northeast London
(Northdale/Fanshawe)
Engine 13
14
Northwest London
(Fox Hollow/White Hills)
Engine 14
*Spare vehicles are italicized.
Teams
Engine no. 3, a 2016 Spartan Metro Star MFD/Carl Thibault.
In addition to standard firefighting and rescue services, some employees of LFD further divided into four specialized teams: ice/water rescue, hazardous materials, technical/rope rescue, and fire communications.[4]
Budget
As per the 2020-2023 Multi-Year Budget, the London Fire Department's services and assets are paid for by the taxpayers of London at an approximate rate of 80 cents a day per citizen.[5] In 2021, the department's yearly net budget was CA$66.7 million.
Included in the budget is funding for London's new Fire Station 15, built to serve the southeast part of the city (specifically the growing Summerside area). Station 15, which will cost approximately $3.85 million to build, is planned to open in 2025, and will include an engine.[6]
