Northgate Fire & Rescue

Northgate Fire Station #29

After nearly 20 years of planning, the brand-new, stateof-the-art Northgate Fire Station 29 officially opened its bay doors on June 27, 2022. “We have been extremely well-received by the community, and the station is very busy,” said Steve Leatherman, Frederick County’s Deputy Chief of Administrative Services.

The Northgate Fire Station site was selected in 2006 in conjunction with the area’s forecasted commercial and residential growth. With that selection came a lengthy process of budgeting, designing, permitting, transferring of properties, and construction. Strategically selected, the new station assists in serving the medical facilities along Thomas Johnson Drive in northern Frederick. “The station will serve as a beacon of the great things and great spaces that we have collectively created for the citizens of North Frederick,” Leatherman said.

The 18,700 square-foot single-story facility is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year by a total of 8 personnel comprised of an engine and ambulance crew, a paramedic, an EMS Supervisor, and a Battalion Chief. It’s five drive-through apparatus bays house an Engine, Ambulance, Paramedic chase car, the EMS Supervisor, and both the Battalion Chief and Technical Rescue Team units. Separate from the main fire station building stands a tower that was constructed to provide multi-faceted training space for on duty personnel including members of the Technical Rescue Team, all of whom are assigned to the Northgate Fire Station. “It’s going to allow our firefighters to constantly train and maintain a state of readiness where we don’t have to remain dependent on some of the other training facilities throughout the county,” said Leatherman.

The building’s layout was designed to accommodate the type of personnel it houses – such as administrative areas for the station’s officer, who oversees the firehouse’s day-to-day operations. A large training room that seats up to 30, serves for daily training activities and is also available for public use. A bunkroom, fitness room, laundry area, and locker rooms are situated around the main focal points of the kitchen and day room.

With safety and health at the forefront of decisions made by Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services, advanced cancer prevention technology was incorporated into the facility to protect firefighters, whose occupational exposure increases the risk of certain cancers. Its air filtration systems create positive pressure between the living and administrative areas and the apparatus bay, this keeps the particles and carcinogenic gases from the diesel engines out of those areas. The apparatus bay has a decontamination room in with extractors that remove contaminants from the firefighter personal protective equipment. In addition, you will find handwashing stations throughout the facility.

The Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services is eager to demonstrate the improved response capabilities and improved response times this new facility provides. They are proud to be a part of the Northgate community and excited to integrate their new home into the beautiful landscape of North Frederick.

37 Thomas Johnson Drive, Frederick 301-600-9290