Built in 1975, on the site of a much older Fire Station, it has been likened to 'a warehouse with Fire Engines parked in it'. Not particularly noted for its' architectural grace or style, it is, however, a functional building.

For those of you who delight in such things, the Drill Tower, in the yard at the rear of the Station, is actually older than the Station itself, it having been built towards the end of the life of the old Station.

If you're wondering what happened to the Staff and Equipment, while they built the new Station, they moved into the recently vacated old Stoke Newington Fire Station and were mobilised from there (Stoke Newington having moved to new premises themselves), throughout the construction of the new one.

In the period 2000/2001, Appliances from Kingsland attended some 1,739 calls, on our own Stations Ground (that means we haven't included attending calls on surrounding Stations Grounds).

These comprised of:-
Fires 472
False Alarms 595
Special Services 672
Total 1739

That's an average of 4-5 calls per 24 hours.

Kingslands' 'Ground' covers only about 4 sq km and is one of the smallest in London and stretches from the Northern edge of Dalston down to the Northern edge of Hoxton and from the Eastern edge of Islington to the Western Edge of London Fields.

The area served by Firefighters from Kingsland, is undergoing tremendous change at present.
Many of the run down areas are having money poured into them and previously derelict warehouses and factories, are being converted into a variety of live/work units and luxury apartments. Many of these front on to the Canal and command very high prices.

The population is very cosmopolitan and most ethnic backgrounds are represented.

With there still being a number of large, unnoccupied buildings, unlicensed 'raves' are still being held, which have caused us some problems in the past.

Businesses tend to be of the 'Rag Trade' type, although, this does appear to be on the decline, with the aforementioned studios taking over.

There are a great many retail shops and four markets, namely Hoxton (shared with Shoreditch Fire Stn), Broadway (now much reduced), The Waste (Saturdays only, Kingsland Rd) and the (almost) World famous Ridley Rd, which is open six days a week. Here you can purchase a vast range of ethnic foodstuffs, clothes and even electrical goods.

Ridley Road Market is always busy but on Saturdays it is absolutely heaving.

A few years ago, we were called to a fire at a premises about half-way down the market, on a Saturday Afternoon! We only had one Appliance available that day, as the other had been sent to another Station, to stand-by there. On arrival at the head of the market, I went with a Breathing Apparatus crew of 2 to investigate, before committing the Appliance to try to negotiate the market.

When we got to the building, we realised that this was a 'working job' and informed my Driver by radio, to make his way down to the premises. With the Blue Lights and Siren on and a Firefighter walking in front (you can probably imagine the crowds), they gradually made it, not without incident though. A few market stalls got clipped on the way and, as the Firefighter cleared people from in front of him, they walked past him and then in front of the Appliance. The 2 other Appliances never made it.

Thankfully, it proved to be a relatively small fire and further Appliances weren't needed nearby. I dread to think how the Police would have cleared the market, to allow us full access.

IN AN EMERGENCY, DIAL 999 (112 EUROPE/911 US)