The Detroit Fire Department and the Detroit Public Safety Foundation are thanking The Home Depot Foundation for creating a welcoming, beautifully renovated outdoor space for the firefighters and EMS personnel of Engine 55, giving them a comfortable place to relax, recharge and enjoy some downtime between emergency calls.

The project comes as Engine 55 celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. The firehouse was selected in part to mark this special milestone, with the renovation providing a lasting way to recognize the generations of first responders who have served the community from Engine 55 over the past century.

Thanks to a nearly $20,000 grant from The Home Depot Foundation, Engine 55’s outdoor area has been transformed into a comfortable and inviting space featuring a new gazebo, metal picnic tables, benches, Adirondack chairs and a grill area complete with a new grill, flattop and grill table.

The project also included a new shed, painted fire-engine red and outfitted with heavy-duty shelving, as well as metal trash cans, outdoor cornhole boards, an outdoor fan and two fancy new office chairs. Volunteers also worked to clean up and improve the landscaping on the west side of the firehouse, adding to the overall transformation.

Approximately 30 volunteers rolled up their sleeves to bring the project to life, assembling furniture, building the gazebo, painting the shed and tackling landscaping improvements.

“This is a great example of what makes Detroit such a special place,” said Chief David Nelson of the Detroit Fire Department. “It’s wonderful to see our community not only step up with the funding to provide these really nice extras for our firefighters but also take time out of their own schedules to come down and do the work themselves. These are the kinds of things that make a firehouse feel even more like home. I also want to thank Captain James Plieth for coordinating this project and helping make it all happen.”

The Detroit Public Safety Foundation, which works to support Detroit’s public safety agencies and the men and women who serve the city, helped facilitate the partnership with The Home Depot Foundation.

“The Home Depot has been such a wonderful partner here in Detroit,” said Patti Kukula of the Detroit Public Safety Foundation. “They are always asking what they can do to help and looking for ways to make a meaningful difference for our first responders. This project is a great example of that commitment, and we’re so grateful for their continued partnership and generosity.”

Chief of the Detroit Fire Department, David Nelson and Fire Engine Operator Randall Aikens thanks Alana Hart with The Home Depot Foundation and Josh Paauwe, District Manager for The Home Depot, for honoring our team with their time and resources. 

“Giving back and building strong relationships are two of our eight values at The Home Depot. Giving back to those who give so much for us is an honor. The Home Depot Foundation is celebrating 15 years of giving back to our veterans causes. Our relationship with the Detroit Public Safety Foundation has grown over the years and continues to grow. We look forward to more projects and changing lives together,” said Alana Hart of The Home Depot.

The renovated outdoor space gives Engine 55 personnel another place to unwind, enjoy a meal together and spend time with their colleagues when they are not responding to calls for service. The project reflects the power of community partnerships and the many ways local businesses and volunteers can show their appreciation for Detroit’s first responders.

The Detroit Fire Department and the Detroit Public Safety Foundation thank The Home Depot Foundation and its volunteers for making this project possible and for helping create a space that Engine 55 personnel can enjoy for years to come.

From left to right: Isabel Chapman and Alana Hart, The Home Depot Foundation, Patti Kukula, Executive Director of the Detroit Public Safety Foundation, Josh Paauwe, District Manager for The Home Depot, Elisa Malile, Chief of Staff, and Captain James Plieth, Detroit Fire Department, Carter Drewry, Detroit Public Safety Foundation.