ST. GEORGE, Utah — The heart of downtown St. George is now home to Fire Station 1 — the headquarters station for the St. George Fire Department, located at 85 S. Flood Street (400 East).
“We are pleased to relocate Station 1 to a new site — in the heart of downtown St. George — to accommodate the needs of our growing city,” said Mayor Michele Randall. “We had outgrown our previous Station 1, located near Utah Tech University, and increased traffic congestion over the years presented a challenge. This upgrade positions our fire department well for the future.”
Inside the new Station 1 is an enlarged photo of some of the original St. George Fire Department members. The department was established in 1936 with a volunteer team of 23 members, consisting of a chief, captains and crew. Their first fire engine was a 1936 Studebaker, which the department still owns and is on display in the station lobby.
“Whenever possible we like to honor our past while looking to the future, striving to better serve our residents,” Randall added. “Station 1 is built on the site of the old Flood Street Chapel, which dated back to 1955. We have original bricks from that building on display to commemorate what had been a significant gathering spot for the community for many years.”
The new, 23,600 square foot station is nearly three times as large as the old Station 1. It has four apparatus bays, administration, a comfortable living area upstairs for the personnel, a combined community and training room, a day room and kitchen, a fitness center and single-user private restrooms. The cost of the facility was approximately $9 million, paid for by impact fees and the City’s capital projects fund.
“The design of our new headquarters station increases the site’s functionality, improves the station’s operations and response times and provides a safe working and training environment,” said St. George Fire Chief Robert Stoker. “I think not only our firefighters will appreciate this new facility, but our residents can appreciate the measures being taken to protect them. Thanks to the St. George City Council for their support in making this happen.”
The St. George Fire Department operates nine stations strategically located throughout St. George, responding to fire emergencies, EMS calls, hazardous materials incidents, technical rescues, vehicle extractions and other assistance requests. SGFD also provides mutual aid to surrounding communities.
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About the City of St. George
St. George is the largest city in Washington County and the fifth-largest city in Utah with more than 100,000 residents. In recent years, people from across the United States have been attracted to St. George’s world class healthcare, active lifestyle, access to university education and proximity to unrivaled recreation. Scenic beauty abounds throughout the city and region including Snow Canyon State Park, Quail Creek and Sand Hollow Reservoirs and Zion National Park. With an average of about 300 days of sunshine per year, the community welcomes all to live, work, play and eat and experience the ‘Brighter Side’ in St. George, Utah.