12/06/2025
A Legacy on Guard: The Historic Fort Knox Firehouse
The history of the Fort Knox Fire Department reaches back more than a century, to when the post was known as Camp Knox, established in 1918 as America entered World War I. The installation supported troops preparing for service overseas and played a role in the development of early aviation practices, including aerial target training. At the same time, cavalry units still roamed the grounds, marking a unique overlap of historic military eras.
Although Camp Knox was closed a few years later and designated a wildlife refuge, its importance was far from over. On January 1, 1932, Camp Knox officially became Fort Knox, a permanent military post and the new headquarters of the U.S. Armyâs Mechanized Cavalry. With the rapid growth of the post came the need for a modern fire department.
A Firehouse Built in the Age of the Gold Vault
Construction of Fire Station No. 1 began in 1933 and was completed in 1935âduring the same period the world-famous Gold Vault and much of Fort Knoxâs infrastructure were built. In total, 13 fire houses were established to guard the growing post, yet none became as well-known or as long-standing as the historic Station No. 1, which turned 90 years old in 2025.
Originally labeled Building 13, the station was built to last, with heavy oak doors, coal chutes for heating, and a fire pole set in the center of the engine bay. Many of these features can still be seen today, preserved as reminders of the past. The station also served another role: during World War II, it doubled as a guard house.
Prisoners of War at the Firehouse
Throughout the war, the firehouse held German and Italian prisoners of war, many of whom worked on the installation and even helped around the firehouse and community. Several of the prisoners even played sports with the local teams and quickly preferred life at Fort Knox over the cold, hungry realities of the battlefield. Most prisoners stayed at a nearby campâtoday the location of Fort Knox High Schoolâs football fieldâand for many, this unusual chapter of history offered safety, new friendships, and a chance to live again.
The Tank That Came Through the Wall
Not all the firehouse stories are quiet ones. One of the most astonishing came on May 11, 1973, when a soldier stole an M1 tank and drove it through multiple buildingsâincluding Station No. 1âflattening cars and smashing a hole through the firehouse. The rogue tank was finally stopped at the traffic circle. The station was repaired and continued its service as though the incident were just another story to add to its walls.
Traditions That Live On
Over the decades, Station No. 1 has been home to countless stories: arrivals of young soldiers, joyful homecomings, first loves, and lifelong friendships. One iconic tradition was the firehouse Dalmatian mascot. Quick on his feet, he often beat the firefighters to the trucks when the bell known as the âJokerâ would ring. His memory still lives onâthe old bell that once rang with him at its side still hangs on the wall.
Outside, behind the station, still stands an old stable that once housed parade horses and cavalry gear. Today it serves as storage, but its presence remains a quiet symbol of the Armyâs transformation from horses to tanks, and now to modern mechanized warfare.
Carrying the Legacy Forward
In its 90 years, the Fort Knox Fire Department has grown from a small contingent with basic equipment into a highly trained force of professional firefighters, hazardous materials technicians, rescue specialists, and EMTs, serving both the post and the surrounding community. The values that shaped the original stationâservice, skill, tradition, and prideâcontinue to guide every member.
A Living Landmark
Station No. 1 is more than a building; it is a witness to American history. It has stood through the Great Depression, world wars, the construction of the Gold Vault, the era of cavalry and tanks, and generations of soldiers coming and going. Today, it remains one of five of the oldest continuously operating firehouses in Kentucky, and a treasured landmark recognized far beyond the gates of Fort Knox.
To serve in its red-brick walls is to carry on a legacy. For the firefighters who work there today, it is both an honor and a privilege to protect the community from within one of the most historic fire stations in the nation.
