© 2011 by Papafrezzo Photography. All rights reserved.
The first snow this winter here in Bergen, Norway. The former fire-station of Skansen is nicely surrounded by snow-covered trees.
The old fire station at Skansen is located on one of the hills surrounding the city of Bergen, Western Norway. The fire station is constructed in 1903 after a major fire on September 22nd, 1901 destroyed a large part of the city center.
Inside the fire station there was room for one fire wagon, a stable room for one horse and a work room. On the first floor the fire chief had a flat, and the watchman sat in the tower, where he had a telegraph and a direct telephone line to the main fire station in town.
Skansen fire station was not in use during daytime. At night the station had a watchman awake in the tower and a fireman on duty while he slept, unless, of course there was a fire.
The station acquired its first fire engine in 1936. At this time the last horse, Olav, was retired. He was given a new position in the municipal waste disposal service. The fire station was closed down in 1969, and today Buekorpset – the Drummer Boys Battalion – keeps guard at Skansen.
