Central Fire Station
29 Maxwell Road, Singapore 069120
The Central Fire Station is the oldest existing fire station in Singapore. It is located at Hill Street in the Museum Planning Area, within the Central Area, Singapore's central business district.
The idea of setting up a Fire Brigade was conceived after a fire destroyed $13,000 worth of property in 1855. Nonetheless it was 14 years later that a volunteer fire service was started, and another 36 years before Singapore had its first proper fire station. The planning of the Central Fire Station began in 1905 and was completed in 1908 at a cost of S$64,000. The services of the Fire Brigade was so important that during the Japanese Occupation, the Japanese retained the British firemen in their jobs, sparing them from incarceration.
Today the Civil Defence Heritage Gallery is housed within the Central Fire Station. It showcases the history of firefighting in Singapore. Visitors can admire the antique fire engines and other firefighting equipment. Tours to the hose tower is also available. Until the 1920s, the tower was the highest building in Singapore.
The Central Fire Station was gazetted as a national monument on 18 December 1998.
