Fire Station 10

Fire protection at Waco’s municipal airport—known as Waco Regional Airport since the late 1980s—has evolved significantly since the end of World War II. Construction on the airport began before the United States entered the war in December 1941. Soon after, however, its purpose shifted when the federal government selected the site as the home of Blackland Army Air Field.

Following the war, responsibility for fire protection at the airport was transferred to the Waco Fire Department in March 1947. In July 1967, the city, Federal Aviation Administration, and Waco fire officials accepted a new fire station located west of the terminal building. This marked the first full-scale fire station at the airport, replacing a smaller facility situated near the gas station. When the new station opened on October 1, it was staffed by one firefighter per 24-hour shift. Beginning in January 1968, staffing increased to two firefighters per shift.

In September 1968, the station was closed so personnel could be reassigned to the James Connally Technical Institute station, which received partial funding from General Dynamics. The closure raised concerns within the local aviation community. For the next six years, airport fire protection was provided primarily by volunteers, including City of Waco maintenance personnel.

Professional firefighter staffing returned on September 14, 1974, when Station 10 reopened with two firefighters assigned to each of three shifts. In addition to protecting the airport, Station 10 also provided fire service to the surrounding newly annexed areas. This dual role continued until March 2006, when Station 12 opened at the intersection of Flat Rock Road and China Spring Highway.

By the late 1990s, city leaders recognized the need for a larger, more modern airport fire station, as the nearly 30-year-old facility had become cramped for its growing crew. In 2005, the Federal Aviation Administration agreed to fund most of the construction costs for a new station. The expanded Station 10 opened in late 2007 and continues to house two Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) units dedicated to protecting Waco Regional Airport.

Location

7915 Karl May Dr, Waco, TX 76708 View Map

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