Central Fire Station

Singapore was plagued by fires throughout the late 19th Century, with nothing but valiant volunteers, horse-drawn engines, and hand-cranked pumps on offer to tamp the flames. In 1888 the Municipal Commission created an organized team and a purpose-built station—but neither proved sufficient. So in 1904, a professional firefighter was brought over from England and became the superintendent of the Singapore Fire Brigade. He trained the force and championed a modern firehouse, built with government funds. 

The resulting regal Central Fire Station, also known as Hill Street Station, opened in 1909. The 3-story complex includes living quarters, a carpentry shop, and a lookout tower, among other swank additions—like portable water pumps and fully motorized trucks. Its distinct red-and-white brick façade gained it the nickname “blood and bandage”. Strategically placed at the heart of town, 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 Defense Force (SCDF), an upgraded team who fights fires and also hopefully occasionally rescues a cat stuck in a tree. The SCDF kept pace with Singapore’s growth by acquiring shiny new stations and opening an impressive training academy—preparing students for any disaster, from medical to nuclear crises. 

The Central Fire Station remains a gem in the lion city’s firefighting history and is now a National Monument, home to a Heritage Gallery of firefighting memorabilia and vintage engines alongside exhibits detailing the region’s history of handling the heat. Still fully operational, it continues to blaze new chapters in the city’s history and extinguish any crises—while ensuring that a minimal amount of blood or bandages are required on the scene.