Central Fire Station

Singapore faced significant challenges with urban fires in the late nineteenth century. The community responded through dedicated volunteers who operated horse-drawn engines and hand-cranked pumps to protect their neighbourhoods. Recognising the need for a more structured approach, the Municipal Commission established an organized team and station in 1888.

Building on these foundations, the Singapore Fire Brigade evolved further in 1904 with new leadership and training programmes. This development culminated in the magnificent Central Fire Station, which opened its doors in 1909.

The resulting regal Central Fire Station opened in 1909. The three-story complex, strategically placed at the heart of town, includes living quarters, a carpentry shop, and a lookout tower, among other swank additions. Its distinct red-and-white brick facade gained it the nickname “blood and bandage.” Firefighters still slide down Singapore’s first-ever fire pole and are able to access emergencies in record time.

In 1989 the old brigade transformed into the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), an upgraded team who fights fires and hopefully occasionally rescues a cat stuck in a tree.

The Central Fire Station remains a gem in the Lion City’s history and is now a national monument, home to a Civil Defence Heritage Gallery of firefighting memorabilia and vintage engines. Still fully operational, it continues to blaze new chapters in the city’s history and extinguish any crises—while ensuring that minimal amounts of blood and bandages are required on the scene.

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