DFD Station #31

Station Number #31	Companies Assigned
Council District 9
9365 Garland Road
	Engine 31
	Rescue 31

	updated 12/03/2008

Fire Station #31 and Fire Station #29 both opened on August 16, 1947-the first of Dallas' post-World War II stations. Fire Station #31 has 2 full bays and contains 10,621 square feet. In typical fire department fashion, firefighters from the two stations had bets on whether #29 or #31 would have the first run. Station #29 won. Initially, station crews were supervised only by lieutenants, managing to "somehow survive" without the benefit of a Captain for three months.

Station #31 was constructed partially with used materials from several old houses being torn down to build Central expressway. The used materials not only helped reduce the construction costs, but also provided ready material in the postwar months when such materials were hard to come by at any price.

In 1947, Station #31 sat in the midst of open fields, near the City limits and the community of Reinhardt. Runs to Buckner Blvd. and Oates Drive, Northwest Highway at Easton, and Flag Pole Hill were county runs. Station #31 had a large first alarm district, but only 12 to 15 boxes.

The first engine at #31 was an old second hand pumper donated to the City by the Air Force with a 500 gallon capacity. The pumper was referred to as an A-wagon and carried 30 feet of hard suction coiled on top of the tank for drafting. Difficulty in getting this engine up the incline of the Station #31 approach caused firefighters to drain some of the water from the tank to lighten its load. Even so, many times Engine 31 would start on a run, only to watch Engine 19 pass by as it sat broken down. In the late 1940s, a grass wagon was located at #31 but was never separately manned.

Building Needs

Red: Indicated High Priority Items
Orange: Indicates Medium Priority Items
Green: Indicates Low Priority Items

Category 1 - Station Safety/Security	Exterior Doors and Locks	Front & rear doors need better locks
Category 1 - Station Safety/Security	Outdoor Security Lighting	Parking lot lacks lighting - creates security problem.
Category 2 - Station Exterior	Exterior Paint	Apparatus bay doors need new coat of paint - we would provide labor.
Category 2 - Station Exterior	Grill/Smoker	Current grill is corroded, need new one.
Category 2 - Station Exterior	Oudoor A/C Units	Some windows lack screens - 10 screens
Category 2 - Station Exterior	Outdoor Furniture	We have none: Need outdoor chairs & table for family visits
Category 3 - Station Interior	A/C, Heating	Kitchen & upstairs front room lack adequate AC
Category 3 - Station Interior	Floor/Carpet/Tile	Utility room needs tile-Just provide us the materials.
Category 3 - Station Interior	Locks (Doors, cabinets, personal lockers, etc.)	Personal lockers are inadequate- Probably date back to construction of station. Old lockers give disoriented appearance
Category 3 - Station Interior	Window Tint	UR/IRE tint to windows would help reduce energy consumption of station
Category 3 - Station Interior	Other	Desperately needs insulation.
Apparatus Room	Apparatus Doors	New paint
Apparatus Room	PPE Lockers	We need new, larger lockers, current one old small & gives disorganized appearance.
Bedroom	Bedroom Lockers	Our lockers are very old, unsecured, and give a disorganized look.
Bedroom	Other	We have no partitions between beds in our crews bedroom, which is small our crew members have no privacy, making it uncomfortable for our female members.
Family Room	Television	We need a TV for our kitchen.
Offices	Copier/Scanner	2 copy/scanners for up & down stairs computers.
Additional Items	Additional Fire Fighting Equipment/Tools	Chain saw for the engine.

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