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Only 1 of 12 in Topeka fire stations still uses fire pole

Station four is one of the cities busiest and has three 24-foot fire poles

By Katie Moore
The Topeka Capital-Journal

TOPEKA, Kan. — Although there are 12 fire stations that serve Topeka, Fire Station No. 4 at S.W. 8th and Clay is the only one that still utilizes fire poles to quickly transport firefighters down to the garage where their truck awaits them.

It is a tradition that is becoming a relic, mostly because of safety concerns, but the 12 firefighters at the house are all said to still use the poles.

The main advantage is of course speed. Lt. Tony Standifer said using a pole instead of the stairs “is way faster.”

Full story: Slip sliding away: Firepole tradition almost a think of the past