ACTIVE FIRE HOUSE

1884 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester

Engine Company 18 / Ladder Company 6

HISTORY

This firehouse opened on October 4, 1894 housing Combination Wagon 1 (Ashmont). On January 10, 1907 Combination Wagon 1 was disbanded and Engine Company 46 was organized. The building was originally built with only one rounded door (see photo at left).

Engine 46 remained in service here until it was disbanded in 1958, except for a period of time from December 5, 1946 to June 26, 1947 for renovations. At this time, the firehouse was converted from a single-bay to a double-bay door arrangement.

In 1938 Ladder Company 27 moved in from its former station at 32 Walnut Street in the Neponset section of Dorchester. When Engine 46 was disbanded in 1958, Ladder 27 moved back to Neponset (to a new firehouse at 301 Neponset Avenue) and Engine 16 moved in from its former quarters at 2 Temple Street, staying until December 31, 1958.

On June 11, 1960 Engine Squad Company 18 moved from the firehouse at 30 Harvard Street to 1884 Dorchester Ave. Engine (Squad) 18 had maintained quarters at 30 Harvard Street since the City of Boston annexed the Town of Dorchester in 1870.

Ladder Company 6, organized in 1870, moved in 1982 from its former quarters at 9 Gallivan Boulevard.

Fire companies that have occupied the firehouse over the years are:

Combination Wagon 1 (Ashmont) (1894-1907), Engine Company 46 (1907-1958), Ladder Company 27 (1938-1958), Engine Company 16 (1958), Engine Squad Company 18 (1960-1969), Engine Company 18 (1969-present), Ladder Company 6 (1982-present).

A plaque is mounted on the exterior of the firehouse to commemorate a firefighter who died in the Line Of Duty:

The firehouse is located at 1884 Dorchester Avenue, in the Ashmont / Peabody Square section of Dorchester, near the intersection of Talbot Avenue. The firehouse is built at an angle, in close proximity to the street, requiring a very sharp turn to the right when responding northbound on Dorchester Avenue.

Engine 18 and Ladder 6 have a response area throughout the many sections of Dorchester.

Engine 18 responds to approximately to 2500 incidents per year. Ladder 6 responds to approximately 2800 incidents per year.