Black History Month: Denver firefighters recreate historic Five Points Fire Station No. 3 photos

DENVER (KDVR) — Firefighters old and new in the Five Points neighborhood of Denver gathered together Saturday to recreate a historic photo on display in the fire station.

Denver Firefighters Local 858 and the Denver Fire Department recreated the photo at Five Points Fire Station 3, where firefighters say the history there holds a lot of significance.

“With the history of Station No. 3 I just really wanted to bring us all together and show the growth that we’ve had throughout the years,” firefighter Marcus Gibson Sr. said.

Fire Station No. 3 opened in 1931, and it’s the oldest and smallest active Denver fire station. According to the City of Denver, it was also the only fire station where Black firefighters could work until 1957.

“This is where, back in the 40s and 50s, we were only allowed to work here as Black firefighters, so now the opportunity that we can work and expand throughout the city, its the significance, like a homage to this is where we started,” Gibson said.

Gibson told FOX31 he wanted to gather firefighters old and new to recreate some historical photos that are on display inside the station to show just how far the department has come.

“Then and now, just to show the growth in the department, men and women on the job, where we came from, where we used to be, how important it is,” Gibson said. “I want to be a voice to the young people out there, the young minorities in the city, that you can become anything you want to be, and we are a testament to that.”

He grew up in the area and said he spent lots of time running up and down those streets, so the moment was too special to put into words.

“This station holds so much in my heart,” he said.

The fire department plans to print the photos out and put them on display alongside the historical photos inside Station No. 3.