Not only does it look sharp, DeLand Fire’s Station 81 has now received national acclaim for its design.
The fire station, which opened in early 2022, was recognized among 61 entries nationwide in the annual Firehouse Station Design Awards, receiving a bronze award. The entries were judged based on site location, design, operations, functionality and safety for personnel.
“A lot of thought and effort went into conceptualizing the design of Fire Station 81,” said Fire Chief Todd Allen. “Thank you to SchenkelShultz Architecture, our entire design team, the City Commission and for everyone else who had a hand in making this dream a reality. We are proud to have one of the premier fire stations in Volusia County and Central Florida.”
Replacing former Station 81, which was originally designed in the late 1960s as a volunteer fire station, the 15,780-square-foot facility meets the department’s current and future needs. The new station houses all of the fire department’s administrative offices, two response fire companies, the shift commander, and fire prevention under one roof. Previously, the Fire Marshal’s Office was located in City Hall.
Having a central location for administrative operations allows for improved communication and coordination – and it is necessary – as Station 81 in 2021 fielded more than 5,300 calls for service, making it one of the busiest in Volusia County.
Chief Allen said some of the main focuses of the new facility were personnel safety, training and accommodations for a changing workforce.
Station 81 has a separate area for decontaminating gear, keeping harmful chemicals and carcinogens away from personnel. The living quarters features a kitchen, lounge, fitness area, offices and separate bunk rooms to accommodate our diverse firefighters.
Training is also a key element of the station with integrated designs that allow for confined space, rappelling, hose and rooftop drills.
The new station also features a large multi-use community room that can be used for hosting training classes, and city meetings, etc. The community room is available for other groups to utilize if available at the requested time and date.
DeLand Fire Station 81 is located at 343 West Howry Avenue.
