A/C and electrical outages force Dallas Fire Station 43 crews to relocate

Officials say technicians are working to restore the aging station as quickly as possible.

Dallas Fire Station 43 remains out of service after air conditioning and electrical problems forced firefighters and paramedics to relocate, leaving some nearby businesses concerned about emergency response times during one of the hottest stretches of the summer.

The station, located just north of Love Field, is one of the city's oldest fire stations. According to the Dallas Firefighters Association, its ladder truck, engine and ambulance have been reassigned to two other stations, each more than 2 miles away.

The station's closure began after its only air conditioning unit stopped working.

"That station has one A/C unit — when it goes out, that's all it's got," Dallas Firefighters Association President Chris Peterson said.

Peterson said air conditioning problems occasionally occur at Dallas' 59 fire stations, but having to evacuate an entire station is uncommon.

Peterson said the temporary relocation leaves the surrounding area at a disadvantage.

"That entire area is vulnerable right now," Peterson said.

In a statement to NBC 5, a Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesperson said the station's primary air conditioning system experienced a technical issue. Temporary portable cooling units were brought in, but those units caused electrical problems by repeatedly tripping the station's circuit breakers.

The department said technicians are working to repair both the electrical system and the primary air conditioning unit so personnel can return as quickly as possible. It remains unclear when Station 43 will reopen.

Peterson said restoring the station is important for both firefighters and the community.

"We owe that to the citizens, we owe that to the firefighters," Peterson said.

For neighboring businesses, the station's absence is noticeable.

Bill Holcomb has worked at Staz-On Roofing next door to Station 43 for years and said having firefighters nearby has always provided peace of mind.

"Nice and close if we have any emergencies or anything," Holcomb said.

Holcomb said he hopes repairs are completed soon.

"I think we should get that A/C fixed for them over there," Holcomb said. "They do their job and they do it well."

"I want them back next door," Holcomb said.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication.