Hill Field, Fire Station No. 1 & Communications Center, 5935 C Avenue, Layton

Source document Quoted word for word from HAER UTAH,6-LAY.V,2C-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

This Fire Station housed activities that protected the people, buildings, and equipment on Hill Field and was an essential element of aviation support activities at the base. In addition, this building contributes to a deeper understanding of the early development of the U.S. Army Air Corps, a branch of the Army which eventually became the U.S. Air Force. History: This Fire Station has served Hill Field for over fifty years. It was located in close proximity to the flight line in order to expedite intervention with aircraft crashes. The ambulance and crash trucks were housed in Building 2, next to the Aircraft Operations Hangar. Important buildings (such as Hangar were equipped with heat sensitive sprinklers that were connected to the Fire Station.

Fire Station workers monitored the pressure in the sprinkler pipes of all buildings equipped with the system. A pressure drop in the pipes signalled that the sprinklers were on and that a fire might be in progress. These sprinklers could deliver enough water to completely fill up the planes on the assembly repair line. The system used air pressure to block the pipes and keep the water from freezing during winter, but if excess heat burned through a fire link, a valve opened to release the air, which then allowed the water to flow. The original portion of Building 9 consists of two distinct sections. The south section x served the administrative and operational functions of the station. The north section x housed fire trucks and other emergency intervention equipment.

Hill Field, Fire Station #1 & Communications Center HAER No. UT-85-C Page 2 General Description: Building 9 is a two-story "V"-shaped structure. The exterior wall is constructed of yellow brick laid in six-course American bond. The first floor lintels and second floor sills are marked by a continuous concrete band which circles the building. The first floor sills are of a plain lug type. A continuous concrete frieze located under the roof eave serves as the second floor window lintels. A cupola is located in the center of the administrative portion of the Station. The slope roof, originally covered with slate shingles, has two round dormers on the east and west sides, located over the third and ninth windows (from any direction).

The northwest wing which contains a watchtower that faces the flight line is a modern addition. Hill Field, Fire Station #1 & Communications Center HAER No. UT-85-C Page 3