FIRE STATION DESIGN When designing a fire station, consideration should be given to finding ways to reduce exposures and prevent the cross- contamination of possible carcinogens and other harmful agents. Existing stations can be retrofitted to best accomplish this where possible. 1 Within the station, zones are easily established: RED zone: A designated area, as per WAC 296-305-06505, for contaminated equipment including SCBA, EMS equipment from medical calls, fire hose, turnouts, etc., to be cleaned. When cleaning contaminated equipment, always wear appropriate PPE (gloves, splash gown and N95 if appropriate) to protect against exposures from contaminated equipment. YELLOW zone: This is typically the apparatus bay. Equipment cleaned in the red zone can now be stored in the yellow zone. GREEN zone: “Keep it clean in the green.” The green zone is the living quarters of the fire station including the kitchen, living, sleeping, personal hygiene and o�ice. Contaminated EMS equipment, turnouts, etc., are never allowed. 1 Direct source capture diesel exhaust handling systems for all vehicles and for every apparatus bay can be included in all new station design and retrofitted into existing stations. 1 The air pressure in the living quarters should be higher than that of the apparatus bay to prevent airborne contaminants from entering the living quarters or green zone in general. 1 To avoid exposures to UV light, turnout gear storage should be stored in an enclosed ventilated room (NFPA 1851). 1 Carpet in fire stations acts like a sponge, collecting dirt, soot, feces, MRSA, staph, blood and OPIM from response footwear worn by fire and EMS personnel. Installing hard surface flooring, such as polished concrete, is one way to mitigate these exposures, as solid surfaces are easier to clean than carpet. PLANNING “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” B E N J A M I N F R A N K L I N PLANNING 8