A reader gave us a shout the other day, wondering why the fire station at 4th & Arch is boarded up. The thought on their end was that perhaps the home of Ladder 2 (and formerly Engine 8) was being eliminated, possibly in favor of a new development. Certainly, this location would make a fine spot for development, so close to landmarks of our nation's history and next door to Girard Fountain Park. We did a littler research, and we're relieved to report that the fire station is simply undergoing repairs and isn't going anywhere.

Fire station

According to Philly.com, an ambulance caught fire in the station back in September. Thankfully, nobody was injured and the fire was under control in less than fifteen minutes. Though the fire was quite brief, it caused considerable damage. The medic truck couldn't be salvaged. The building's garage doors, windows, and roof all sustained significant damage. This dramatic image from Myfoxphilly shows the fire burning:

Fire at the fire station. Image from Myfoxphilly.

We reached out to the Philadelphia Fire Department, and they indicated that the building is still being repaired, and should be back in service in the next few months. In the meantime, this area is covered by stations at 6th & South and 10th & Cherry. Hopefully, the Ladder 2 station will soon be back up and running, and Old City's treasures will be just a little bit safer.