Following the 1886 Charleston earthquake that devastated Charleston , the board of the Firemasters suggested selling off some stations , buying new locations , and building stations in a more strategic layout . The result was a series of three firehouses . Each one was designed by Daniel G. Wayne and cost about $ 28,000 . The firehouse at the northeast corner of Wentworth and Meeting Streets became the most prominent and was , until 2013 , the central fire house and office for the Chief of the fire department . The other two stations , built in 1887 are at 5 Cannon St. and 116 Meeting St. A new Headquarters opened on Heriot St. in November 2013 , and the department has a total of 15 stations . The new Headquarters , Station 9 , was designed by Rosenblum Coe Architects is the largest fire station in Charleston and built to withstand severe storms and seismic activity
1886 Charleston earthquake
1886 Charleston earthquake
City of Charleston Fire Department