The voter-approved Fire Station No. 1 is officially open in Downtown Arlington.

Dozens of city and community leaders, Arlington Fire Department staff and residents gathered for Friday’s ceremony, which included remarks from Arlington Mayor Jim Ross, Arlington Fire Chief Bret Stidham, District 6 City Council Representative Long Pham and Downtown Arlington Management Corporation President and CEO Maggie Campbell. The ceremony at 401 W. Main St. also included participants pushing Engine 1 out of its bay to cut the ribbon, as well as the ringing of the fire department bell and the raising of the station’s flag to signify the building was officially open for service.

“This day signifies not only the culmination of countless hours of hard work and the unwavering commitment from our firefighters and the entire community, this is also a significant step in our ongoing mission to keep this city safe,” Chief Stidham said. “Our community is the heart and soul of our town. It is the people within it that make Arlington truly special. This new fire station is not just a building, but a testament to the values and priorities of our community.”

The City broke ground on the more modern, more efficient Downtown fire station in March 2022. The two-story, 17,667-square-foot station replaces the previous Fire Station No. 1, which originally opened in 1954 and had gone through various remodels over the decades. The new facility, approved by voters as part of the 2014 Bond Program, is designed to provide a better work and living space for Arlington’s firefighters. Features include five larger, drive-thru apparatus bays that can hold more equipment, training areas and indoor and outdoor kennels for the Fire Department’s K9 Unit, a full kitchen and a dining room, and various offices.

 Ensuring that first responders have the tools and technology they need to keep the community safe is a priority for the Arlington City Council, said Mayor Ross. Fire Station No. 1 is just one of many ways the City continues investing in that mission, he said.

 “Taking care of the first responders in Arlington is critical to our moving forward as a city. Not just in being able to take care of the men and women who work as firefighters or police officers, not just making sure they enjoy what they are doing, and that we are taking care of them pay-wise,” Mayor Ross said. “But also making sure the businesses and residents know that they are safe in this community, that their neighborhoods are safe and protected from fires and crime.”

 Living quarters for the station’s three shift crews, who each spend 24 hours working from the Downtown station, were also improved. Firefighters on shift will no longer have to share an open dormitory space. The second story of the new station offers 12 private dorm rooms and separate men’s and women’s bathrooms with showers.

 The station also includes a public space for community events and meetings as well as a museum area where residents can learn about the Arlington Fire Department’s history and accomplishments and see historical items up close, such as an antique fire truck.

 “Thank you to our city leaders for investing in Downtown. This is a beautiful building. The architecture complements the street and the way you made the corner open and transparent, sharing the antique fire truck, is super fun,” Campbell said. “Knowing that we have the fire department and the police department not far away, we can continue to grow and develop our Downtown and bring more residents and businesses here.”

 Additionally, the new station’s design includes several energy-saving features, such as Low-E windows with a solar ban coating, a mechanical system with variable refrigerant volume, low-flow plumbing fixtures, and native landscaping that requires minimal irrigation systems.