Firefighters at Phoenix Fire Station 46 in Ahwatukee may soon get something that can be difficult to come by in a 24-hour profession: a better night’s sleep.
City officials joined U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton on June 15 to announce $850,000 in federal funding that will be used to renovate and modernize the station at 15402 S. Marketplace Way, with a particular focus on improving dormitory conditions for firefighters whose sleep is routinely interrupted by emergency calls.
The project will also include accessibility upgrades.
Officials said the improvements reflect growing awareness within the fire service that sleep deprivation can have serious consequences for firefighter health, wellness and job performance.
“Sleep was once treated as a luxury,” Phoenix Fire Chief Mike Duran said. “Today, we recognize it as a necessity, a foundational part of physical and mental readiness.”
The funding was secured through the federal appropriations process by Stanton, who said city leaders approached his office seeking assistance for the project after identifying a need for updated facilities.
“The research is clear,” Stanton said. “Sleep deprivation impacts reaction time, increases injury rates and affects mental acuity.”
Those effects can be especially significant in the fire service, where personnel often respond to emergencies in the middle of the night and are expected to make life-and-death decisions within seconds.
“Most of us will never fully understand what that demands of a person physically, mentally, emotionally,” Stanton said. “But what we can do is make sure that our firefighters have the facilities and the support they need to do that job well and to go home safe.”
Station 46 was originally intended to be a temporary facility, according to Mayor Kate Gallego.
The station’s age and design made it a candidate for modernization as Phoenix continues investing in public safety infrastructure.
“The project addresses long-term challenges that our firefighters face, including chronic sleep disruption tied to irregular schedules and high-stress operations,” Gallego said.
The planned dormitory renovations will incorporate modern design features intended to reduce noise, improve comfort and create a more restorative environment between calls.
“Running into burning buildings is difficult enough,” Gallego said. “It’s our responsibility to do everything we can to make sure that our firefighters are ready for the task, including being healthy.”
The project is part of a larger effort by the Phoenix Fire Department to address sleep-related health concerns among firefighters and upgrade the city’s overall firefighting infrastructure and manpower.
“Since 2019 we have been building fire stations and hiring firefighters at a very significant level,” the mayor noted, citing the addition of 365 sworn firefighter positions in of Phoenix, a 22% increase.
Duran said the department launched a sleep-focused station modernization initiative about nine years ago and has since renovated or restored 17 fire stations.
Additional projects are planned, including the recent dedication of Ahwatukee’s fourth fire station on Chandler Boulevard near North 19th Avenue.
The initiative involving Station 46 is rooted in growing research linking sleep quality to firefighter health and performance.
Duran said nearly 40% of firefighters suffer from undiagnosed sleep disorders, a statistic that underscores the importance of improving station environments.
“We continue to learn just how powerful restorative sleep really is,” Duran said. “It sharpens judgment, protects long-term health, strengthens emotional resilience and gives our firefighters the clarity and reaction time needed when seconds matter most.”
Councilman Kevin Robinson, whose district includes Ahwatukee, said the investment will directly benefit firefighters and the residents they serve.
“When crews can recharge between calls, they respond faster and make safer decisions out in the field,” Robinson said.
He noted that improved living conditions can also help with recruitment and retention, ensuring firefighters have safe and healthy workplaces throughout the city.
Applications to the fire academy have also surged, with more than 2,000 applicants seeking to join the department this year, a 70% increase from previous levels, according to Gallego.
Federal funding will allow the city to move more quickly on the project than would otherwise be possible, officials said.
“Instead of waiting for years, we can improve safety and readiness in a much faster fashion,” Robinson said.
He noted that firefighters face increasing demands from extreme heat, drought and longer wildfire seasons.
For Duran, the renovation represents more than a building project.
“This support represents an investment not only in a building, but in the health, wellness and long-term readiness of the firefighters who serve this community every single day,” he said.