By Attiyya Atkins, Villij News Staff
POMPANO BEACH, FL — Every alarm answered from Pompano Beach’s Fire Station 52 now carries with it the legacy of Woodrow “Woody” Poitier.
On September 3, the City of Pompano Beach cut the ribbon — or more fittingly, rolled out the fire hose, on Fire Station 52 at 10 NW 27 Avenue, the city’s newest state-of-the-art firehouse. But the celebration was about more than new walls and shiny bay doors. The station was dedicated to Poitier, Pompano Beach’s first Black firefighter, whose legacy of service and leadership continues to shape the city.
Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges
Poitier broke barriers in the 1960s as Pompano Beach’s first Black firefighter, serving 24 years as a firefighter and paramedic before rising to lieutenant and earning recognition as Firefighter of the Year in 1986. He later carried his leadership into public service, representing District 4 on the City Commission for six years.
Today, Poitier still serves the city as a mentor, community activist, and member of both the Housing Authority Board and EMS Advisory Board. He also operates the Poitier Funeral Home, continuing his family’s 57-year legacy of providing compassionate service to the community.
Current District 4 Commissioner Beverly Perkins called the dedication “a milestone celebration of diversity and service, honoring a trailblazing firefighter who broke barriers as the first Black firefighter in the City of Pompano Beach.”
A Station Rooted in Wellness
The new 16,145-square-foot, two-story facility was designed not only to withstand Category 5 hurricane winds but also to reflect Poitier’s commitment to wellness. IIn addition to four drive-through bays, private bunks, and modern kitchens, the firehouse includes training and fitness rooms that were built with health and safety at the forefront.
“Woody Poitier wanted this station to be built on the foundation of health and wellness,” said Fire Chief Pete McGinnis during an August tour. “We put special focus on the fitness room, and a health and safety committee of firefighters designed it from the ground up.”
“This training room is essentially Woody’s room,” McGinnis explained. “He chairs the EMS Advisory Board, and all of their meetings — where decisions are made about medications and equipment — will now be held here.”
The station also features a bronze plaque highlighting the eight dimensions of wellness. “Woody wanted health and safety to be the foundation, and this plaque explains exactly why the station is dedicated to him,” said McGinnis.
Honoring Service and Sacrifice
Station 52 also carries a powerful reminder of sacrifice. On the wall hangs a mural created by firefighter Ashley Coupe honoring Battalion Chief Terryson Jackson, who died in a helicopter crash on August 28, 2023, while responding to a medical call.
“Terryson was a rock star. He was one of the best of us, one of the brightest,” Sheriff Gregory Tony said following the crash. “The type of effort and commitment he had for this community — impeccable.”
More Than a Firehouse
From the bifold bay doors that shave seconds off response times to the new wellness plaque that cements Poitier’s legacy, Fire Station 52 is more than just a building — it’s a living story about progress, sacrifice, and Black history in Pompano Beach.
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