Built in 1908, the Central Fire Station is Malaysia’s oldest surviving fire station. Up until the late 19th century, residents of George Town had to rely on the police to help put out flames, tackle wildlife problems and other emergencies.
In 1898, a fire brigade was finally set up, comprising 10 trained volunteers equipped with a steam power pump carted by four horses. It wasn’t until 10 years later, however, that the Central Fire Station was built. The largely Edwardian two-storey building was fitted with a Mughal-style watchtower – topped with a finialed dome – that was used for observation, training and to dry off water hoses.
The Central Fire Station remains in operation 115 years later, with some new additions. The original louvred wood shutters were replaced by colonial grid windows, and at the back of the building, a three-storey barracks was added to house firefighters and their families. But perhaps most striking is the new red and white paint job that accentuates the building’s symmetrical beauty and classic features. So striking, in fact, that the building got an honourable mention in Accidentally Wes Anderson, the bible of nostalgia aesthetics.
The fire station is one of 82 historic buildings listed as Category 1 in the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site. More recently, it was known as the Beach Street Fire Station up until 2019, when it reverted to its original name.
To commemorate its storied past, the station’s squad – led by former station chief Mohamad Rafizi Arafpin – have set up a mini gallery on site. Items on display include old photographs, a vintage bicycle fitted with a water hose carriage, as well as different types of firefighter garb. Young visitors can even put on a kids’ uniform and sit in a fire truck – a front seat glimpse into the life of a hero.
Journeys From A Small Room 