Omagh Community Fire Station represents the first of a series of prototypical stations that can expand and contract depending on the site and operational requirements.
Design Approach
Designed taking inspiration and lessons learnt from some of the best fire stations and training facilities across Ireland and the UK.
HLM led workshops with a cross-section of Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) operational and local station staff, including District and Area Commanders, trainers and the local firefighters themselves to develop an operationally lead design. The design also addresses specific gender considerations thanks to a female firefighter’s workshop, reflecting the changing nature of the NIFRS.
The result is a district headquarters with a fire station housing six fire appliances. This presents a new piece of civic architecture to the NIFRS building stock and to this area of Omagh. There is a community fire safety centre, district and station training facility and a dedicated transport and engineering workshop. The training provisions include a bespoke training tower, as well as Road Traffic Collision (RTC) and specialist animal rescue facilities.
The station, while providing the key operational and administration hub for the district, also has a Silver Command facility offering operational resilience for major incidences across Tyrone and Fermanagh.
This new facility accommodates six specialist appliances, with four watch day crew plus teams and a retained team. The station has regional specialism in RTC team and is one of two centres in the province with specialist animal rescue teams. The accommodation also includes a multi agency silver command suite, district training facility, covering working at height, BA, smoke, RTC, USAR & Animal Rescue and a district transport workshop & BA recharge workshop. The station has a community suite for local use and community engagement, and issues of gender and accessibility were at the forefront of this award-winning design.
