Fire Breaks Ground on Historic Firehouse 44 in River District
Published on October 08, 2026
An American flag hangs from a Charlotte Fire Ladder 17 above the Firehouse 44 groundbreaking site.
By Kevin Campbell, Charlotte Fire
As new neighborhoods take shape and Charlotte's River District continues to develop, Charlotte Fire is making a permanent investment in the safety of one of the city's newest communities.
City leaders, firefighters and community members gathered Oct. 8, 2026, along Dixie River Road to celebrate the groundbreaking of Firehouse 44, a new facility designed to strengthen emergency response capabilities while introducing an innovative approach to firehouse construction.
The approximately 14,000-square-foot, two-story firehouse will feature three apparatus bays and accommodate both fire and rescue operations. It will also make history as the first mass timber firehouse in the Southeast, combining modern public safety infrastructure with environmentally responsible construction.
For Charlotte Fire Chief Reginald Johnson, the groundbreaking represented more than another construction project. It reinforced the city's responsibility to ensure emergency services keep pace with development and that residents have access to professional emergency response when they need it most.
Fire Chief Reginald T. Johnson addresses attendees at the Firehouse 44 groundbreaking.
"What makes today especially meaningful is that Charlotte Fire did not wait for this building to be completed before we began serving this community," Johnson said in his prepared remarks.
Earlier in 2026, Charlotte Fire established a temporary Firehouse 44 along Dixie River Road to provide emergency response coverage while the permanent facility was being developed.
The temporary location includes living quarters for firefighters and a separate building housing the fire engine and emergency equipment. Although modest compared with the permanent facility, it allows firefighters to operate within the community rather than relying entirely on resources traveling from surrounding firehouses.
"The setup may be temporary, but our commitment to this community is not," Johnson said.
Since beginning operations from the temporary facility, firefighters assigned to Firehouse 44 have responded to more than 1,500 incidents, demonstrating the existing demand for emergency services in an area expected to experience substantial growth.
Fire Chief Johnson joins the Firehouse 44 crew at the groundbreaking ceremony.
That demand is central to the decision to establish a permanent firehouse in the River District.
As Charlotte expands through new development and the incorporation of additional areas into the city, emergency response resources must grow alongside it. Residential construction, commercial development and new transportation infrastructure all contribute to the complexity of protecting a growing community.
The River District represents a significant example of that transformation. What is becoming a new residential and commercial destination also requires the essential services that allow a community to function safely.
"More homes mean more residents. New roads, businesses and development bring more activity. And with that growth comes increased demand for fire, rescue and emergency medical response," Johnson said.
The permanent Firehouse 44 will establish a lasting operational presence on the eastern side of Dixie River Road, positioning personnel and equipment to serve the newly incorporated River District and surrounding areas.
Its location is part of Charlotte Fire's broader effort to maintain effective emergency response coverage throughout the city. Positioning firefighters closer to the communities they protect can reduce travel distances and improve their ability to reach emergencies quickly.
An aerial view of the groundbreaking site in Charlotte's growing River District.
"Our responsibility is to make sure Charlotte Fire grows with the city and that our firefighters and equipment are positioned where they are needed," Johnson said.
The ceremony also featured remarks from Charlotte City Councilmembers Dimple Ajmera and Joi Mayo, who joined city leaders, firefighters and project representatives to mark the beginning of construction on the permanent Firehouse 44.
City leaders and project partners turn the first ceremonial shovels of dirt for Firehouse 44.
Beyond its operational importance, Firehouse 44 will introduce a construction method not previously used for a firehouse in the Southeast.
Mass timber construction uses engineered wood products designed to provide structural strength while offering opportunities to reduce the environmental impact associated with traditional building materials.
The project is also designed to meet Living Future's Zero Carbon certification requirements for total project embodied carbon, addressing greenhouse gas emissions associated with building materials and construction.
These sustainability objectives align with the City of Charlotte Policy for Sustainable City Facilities and demonstrate how public safety infrastructure can incorporate innovative construction practices while meeting the demanding operational requirements of Charlotte Fire.
The facility is part of the Charlotte Fire Facilities Master Plan, which guides long-term investments in the buildings and infrastructure needed to support emergency operations.
Charlotte Fire leadership and planning celebrate the start of construction.
For firefighters, the new firehouse will provide dedicated space and modern accommodations to support around-the-clock emergency response. Its three apparatus bays will accommodate emergency vehicles and equipment, while the building is designed to support both fire and rescue teams as the surrounding community develops.
While the architectural design and sustainability features distinguish Firehouse 44 from other facilities, Johnson emphasized that the firefighters who serve inside the building remain the foundation of Charlotte Fire's mission.
"But ultimately, this is not about the building," Johnson said. "It is about the firefighters who will respond from here and the people who will depend on them."
For those firefighters, the work has already begun.
Operating from the temporary facility, they are establishing a presence in the River District, responding to emergencies and becoming familiar with the neighborhoods, roadways and residents they will eventually serve from the permanent firehouse.
Charlotte Fire members gather at the site of the future Firehouse 44.
That familiarity helps build relationships between Charlotte Fire and the community. Firefighters become recognizable neighbors, participate in community activities and provide a consistent public safety presence for residents and businesses.
The permanent Firehouse 44 is expected to be completed in late 2027 or early 2028, providing the River District with a purpose-built facility intended to serve the community for decades.
Until then, firefighters will continue operating from the temporary location, maintaining emergency response coverage as construction progresses.
For Johnson, the project illustrates a responsibility that accompanies Charlotte's continued expansion. As new communities become part of the city, public safety resources must be positioned to meet their needs.
Charlotte Fire command staff attend the groundbreaking ceremony for Firehouse 44.
"When someone calls 911 because their home is on fire, a loved one is experiencing a medical emergency, or they have been involved in a serious crash, they are waiting for help," Johnson said.
"Firehouse 44 puts that help closer."
As construction begins along Dixie River Road, the temporary firehouse will continue answering those calls. The permanent facility will eventually provide firefighters with a new home, but the mission that brought them to the River District will remain unchanged.
Charlotte is growing, and Charlotte Fire is preparing to grow with it.
An architectural rendering of the future Firehouse 44, the Southeast's first mass timber firehouse, planned for Charlotte's growing River District.