Community members, elected officials and firemen brought a warm presence to the Engine 6 fire station at Huntingdon Street and Aramingo Avenue last week as they celebrated the engine company’s reactivation after 16 years. The company, which included a fire engine and the firefighters that operated it, was deactivated in 2009.
Attendees joined Mayor Cherelle Parker in raising their index fingers and reciting the “One Philly, United City” slogan, signifying the moment as part of the administration’s larger initiative for the city.
“I am proud to be here now to announce yet another way that we will ensure that our city is safer, cleaner, and greener,” Parker said.
During its over a century-long operation, the Engine 6 company responded to emergencies across the Kensington, Port Richmond, and Fishtown areas. However, the City of Philadelphia deactivated this company and six others on January 5, 2009, during the recession. During the 16 years of its absence, emergencies in its coverage area were dispatched to other engine companies.
During the press conference, Fire Commission Jeffery Thompson, who has served 35 years in the Fire Department, spoke on the importance of the restoration of Engine 6 for the neighboring areas and the city at large.
“Location and timing are everything in an emergency,” he said. “Having Engine 6 here will allow us to service this neighborhood... I’m very thankful for that.”
In 2019, FEMA funded the city through its Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program to reactivate four of the seven deactivated engine companies – Engine 1 (South Philly/Center City), Engine 8 (Old City), Engine 14 (Frankford), and Engine 39 (Roxborough). FEMA then awarded the city a second grant to reopen two more stations, Ladder 1 in Francisville in December 2023 and Ladder 11 in South Philadelphia in April 2024.
Engine 6 was the last deactivated company to be reopened, reuniting the community with its home engine company.
The over-a-century-old firehouse remained in operation even after the city deactivated Engine 6. It recently underwent several renovations, including new fire engines, a redone floor, and gender-neutral bathrooms.
Rachel Cunningham is the Philadelphia Fire Department's communications director and a resident of Port Richmond. She said after the city pared down, the remaining engines were “stretched thin to cover more area.”
During the celebration, she shared her excitement for the relief of Engine 6’s return.
“It will supplement what we already have… and make it a little more even over the city,” she said.
Ken Wood, who has lived in Port Richmond for 61 years, shared his respect for the firemen who served the neighborhood in engine 6’s absence and his joy that his neighborhood has its fire company back.
“We know that they ran their butts off to get here in a timely fashion to try to save property and lives,” he said. “ It’s a big sigh of relief for the neighborhood in the community. We're very grateful.”
