FIRST DUE FIREHOUSE REPLICAS

About the Owner/Designer/Builder/Author

Andrew Benzie began collecting model emergency vehicles in the 1970s when his grandparents gave him his first Corgi and Dinky toy fire engines. He has an extensive collection and knowledge of Code 3 models, and has published three books on Conrad, Siku, and Tomica emergency vehicles. Andrew currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area where he runs a design and book publishing company, and plays bass and drums with several local bands.

First Due Firehouse Replicas

Release #30:

Denver Fire Department Engine 3

“Pride of the Points”

“Eye of the Storm”

The thirtieth release of First Due Firehouse Replicas:

Denver Fire Department Engine 3 “Pride of the Points” “Eye of the Storm”

Code 3 produced die-cast models of fire apparatus from 1997 to 2011. The first series consisted of Seagrave pumpers representing five different engine companies each from various big city departments including the Denver Fire Department. This white-painted set of replicas was also unique as it included the first ‘un-numbered’ or ‘blank’ release from Code 3.

Denver Fire Station 3 has an unprecedented history, cultural significance, and even ghost stories at the Pride of the Points—the thirtieth release from First Due Firehouse Replicas.

About the Firehouse

Denver Fire Department Station 3 (designated an historical landmark) located at 2500 N. Washington Street has been in service since 1931 making it the oldest active house in the department. It is also the department’s smallest firehouse—the fit for the apparatus is also the tightest in the city with about three inches of clearance on each mirror.

The building’s design was influenced by two notable changes in firehouse architecture—smaller motorized fire engines that replaced horse-drawn equipment, and a growing desire by city planners to see public buildings that were more responsive to their architectural context. The result was this small, one-story firehouse designed by C. Francis Pillsbury in a Spanish Bungalow style which fit seamlessly into the neighborhood. The building is DFD’s only single engine and bay firehouse, and operates with a 4 person crew which answers nearly 4,500 calls a year.

This firehouse stands across the street from its predecessor (still in existence), the former Fire Station No. 3 at 2563 Glenarm Place. Both firehouses are located one block south from the 5-way intersection that gives the Five Points neighborhood its name. Thus the house became known as the “Pride of the Points,” as well as the “Eye of the Storm” due to its unwavering commitment to providing a safe and secure place in the community.

About the Replica

First Due Firehouse Replicas goes to great lengths to capture as much accuracy and detail as possible within each model we produce. Once the research is completed and a firehouse is chosen to replicate, the process involves taking photographs, creating an architectural building plan, assembling and editing the photos to digital 1:64 scale artwork, printing the artwork on glossy poster-quality paper and mounting the prints to foam-core board. Next the walls are cut out using a professional-quality mat cutter (to achieve 45° angle cuts for joins), and each model is then assembled by hand. Additional exterior details are added including air conditioning units, railings, exhaust vents, etc. Finally, remaining small details are hand-painted, the custom-built apparatus bay doors are installed and the raising of the flag completes each firehouse replica.

Fore more information about this product, please see our Frequently Asked Questions page. If have any further questions, please Contact Us.

Code 3 produced five Seagrave pumpers representing the Denver Fire Department in 1998—Engine 6, 7, 15, 16, and a blank version—all of which can easily be numbered for Engine 3 (not included with firehouse purchase). A printed sheet of unit numbers is included with the firehouse to assist in converting existing models.

Engine 3:

• Seagrave (Code 3 #02456-0000, series 1, 1998, converted to Engine 3 by First Due Shops, 2023)

About the Apparatus

How to Order

You may Place an Order for any of our products online. Once we receive your order we will contact you via email with more information about availability, payment, shipping costs, etc.

About Us     Firehouse Replicas     Custom Models     Fleet Services     FAQ     Contact/Order

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About Us     Firehouse Replicas     Custom Models     Fleet Services     FAQ     Contact/Order

Location:

2500 N. Washington Street

Denver, Colorado

Years in Service:

1931-present

Companies Quartered:

1. •Engine 3 (organized 1882, quartered 1931–present)
   

Videos:

I am Denver Fire Station No. 3 (City and County of Denver, historical, 2021)

Calm in the EYE of a STORM (Heroes Next Door, firehouse tour, 2022)

Release Date:

• March 2023

Dimensions:

• Base width: 8.5 inches

• Base depth: 12 inches

• Building width: 8.5 inches

• Building depth: 10.5 inches

• Building height: 4.5 inches

• Height to tip of flagpole: 6 inches

Features Included:

1. •Black base with 2 inch apron in front
   

2. •Removable roofs
   

3. •Working apparatus bay doors (slide them sideways into any position)
   

4. •Flag/Flagpole
   

5. •Printed firehouse fact sheet booklet
   

6. •Apparatus re-number sheet (a poster-printed sheet of apparatus numbers you can use to convert existing models into units quartered in this firehouse)
   

Pricing:

Our introductory price for this firehouse replica is $359 plus shipping (Note: the models of the apparatus are not included). The price covers the cost of the photo-quality prints (starting at about $50), the building materials (various paper, foam, plastic, wood and metal products), and around eight hours of time to construct (not including the many hours of preparatory research and design time spent to create each prototype model). Note: We create each or our replicas by hand—this is NOT a 3D printed or laser cut model.

Corgi Fire Heroes produced a model of Denver Fire Department Engine 1 in 2002. Our First Due Shops converted this unit into Engine 3 with the simple addition of two decals.

Engine 3:

• Seagrave 70th Anniversary (Corgi Fire Heroes #90056, 2002, converted to Engine 3 by First Due Shops, 2023)

In 1893, the city allowed an all African-American company (a first for Denver), under the command of a white captain, to serve this station. Four years later Station 3 became the first and only all African-American company in the Denver Fire Department. Engine 3 remained the only black company for over 60 years until the D.F.D. was desegregated in 1958.

Due to its location, rich history, and diversity, this station is considered a favorite among the firefighters. Some house members claim the station is haunted tracing back to an entire crew that perished in a hotel fire in 1895. They describe footsteps, flickering lights and cabinet doors that swing open and close on their own.

Photo courtesy Denver Public Library

Matchbox produced a popular 1:72 scale model of a Maxim Pumper lettered for the “Denver” Fire Department from 1966 through 1970. This model (along with it’s box) was also produced in 1:86 scale in 2002 as a Hallmark Keepsake ornament.

Engine:

• Maxim Pumper (Matchbox #29-C, 1966-1970)

• Maxim Pumper (Hallmark Keepsake #8846, 2002)