Nashville’s fire department was established as a volunteer organization in May 1807 and became a paid organization on July 24, 1860, with John S. Dashiell as the first chief. Nashville’s first motorized fire engine was installed in 1912, and the Emergency Medical Services Division was created on November 1, 1974. The first fire station — also known as Nashville’s “fire hall” — was established on October 1, 1914, and was designed by James Yeaman, Nashville’s first municipal architect; it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Below are stunning historical photos of Nashville’s fire stations from 1949.
Fire headquarters, located at 518 Deadrick Street.
Engine Company No. 8, located at 1101 Eighth Avenue South.
Engine Company No. 3, located at 301 Foster Street.
Engine Company No. 9, located at 130 Fourth Avenue South.
Engine Company No. 18, located at 1220 Gallatin Road.
Engine Company No. 14, located at 1600 Holly Street.
Engine Company No. 11, located at 1204 Jefferson Street.
Engine Company No. 6, located at 627 Second Avenue South.
Engine Company No. 7, located at 716 Seventeenth Avenue South.
Engine Company No. 1, located at 1317 Third Avenue North.
Engine Company No. 15, located at 2010 Twelfth Avenue South.
Engine Company No. 16, located at 2209 Twenty-first Avenue South.
Engine Company No. 17 and Truck Company No. 4, located at 3430 West End Avenue.
Engine Company No. 12, located at 117 Wharf Avenue. This building is now the Pruitt Branch of the Nashville Public Library.
Engine Company No. 4 and Truck Company No. 3, located at 418 Woodland Street.
Fire headquarters, located at 518 Deadrick Street.
Engine Company No. 8, located at 1101 Eighth Avenue South.
Engine Company No. 3, located at 301 Foster Street.
Engine Company No. 9, located at 130 Fourth Avenue South.
Engine Company No. 18, located at 1220 Gallatin Road.
Engine Company No. 14, located at 1600 Holly Street.
Engine Company No. 11, located at 1204 Jefferson Street.
Engine Company No. 6, located at 627 Second Avenue South.
Engine Company No. 7, located at 716 Seventeenth Avenue South.
Engine Company No. 1, located at 1317 Third Avenue North.
Engine Company No. 15, located at 2010 Twelfth Avenue South.
Engine Company No. 16, located at 2209 Twenty-first Avenue South.
Engine Company No. 17 and Truck Company No. 4, located at 3430 West End Avenue.
Engine Company No. 12, located at 117 Wharf Avenue. This building is now the Pruitt Branch of the Nashville Public Library.
Engine Company No. 4 and Truck Company No. 3, located at 418 Woodland Street.
