Maxwell House ‘Sprucing Up’ Seven IAFF Firehouses

May 31, 2006 – Members of seven IAFF locals are among the winners in the Maxwell House/HGTV “Spruce Up Your Firehouse” photo-essay contest. Tonawanda, NY Local 859; Little Miami, OH Local 4380; Maple Heights, OH Local 1184; Detroit, MI Local 344; Orlando, FL Local 1365; Philadelphia, PA Local 22; and Indian Rocks, FL Local 3206 firehouses were selected to receive $10,000 in renovations.

Fire companies in 10 U.S. metropolitan areas submitted a 250-word essay and photo of the firehouse that needed “sprucing up.” A panel of judges selected two finalists in each region for an online vote of the 10 firehouses deemed most worthy of renovation.

Interior designer Kristan Cunningham, host of HGTV’s “Design on a Dime,” will consult with fire fighters at each of the winning firehouses and unveil the renovated firehouses on HGTV at an open house hosted by Maxwell House. Click here to view “before” pictures of each firehouse.

Tonawanda Local 859 will use the $10,000 for the firehouse workshop, which is used to properly store and maintain equipment. The space is small and is always in disarray, and Local 859 members hope that renovations will turn this room into a more organized and functional space.

With only seven members, the smallest IAFF local to win the makeover is Little Miami, OH Local 4380. The tiny 12’ x 12’ front will be remade to ensure visitors have a good first impression.

Members of Maple Heights, OH Local 1184 affectionately call their firehouse kitchen a “disaster in progress.” The 52-year-old firehouse is sometimes used for area training, so not only is the out-of-date kitchen operational for on-duty fire fighters, but must sometimes accommodate large numbers of fire fighters. Members hope to make the kitchen more functional and to update the potentially hazardous appliances with newer and safer ones.

In Detroit, members of Engine 52 and IAFF Local 344 want to remake the firehouse dormitory. Since the room provides no privacy for the on-duty fire fighters, Local 344 members also hope for room partitions.

In Orlando, members of Local 1365 working at the city’s busiest station, Firehouse 2, can’t recall the last time any updates or repairs were made. Members are looking forward to seeing what HGTV and Maxwell House can do to replace the firehouse’s refrigerators, ceiling tiles and cabinets.

Engine 2 Ladder 3 is not only the second home to many Philadelphia, PA Local 22 fire fighters, but is also home to Marty Mouse and his family. While the kitchen is the favorite meeting place for Local 22 fire fighters, the Mouse family is not welcome there. Local 22 members hope renovations will inspire Marty’s family to find alternative living quarters.

Indian Rocks, FL Local 3206 is also hoping to put the $10,000 to good use to update the kitchen/dining area for Pinellas Suncoast Fire and Rescue 8. Local 3206 members hopes the end result will be a comfortable kitchen with new cabinets, appliances, flooring, lighting and a functional dining area.

The final results of the renovations will air on HGTV in June and July – check your local listings.