Fire station signals sign: what it means

Fire station signals sign: a white sign with the words FIRE STATION, a black panel with two red lights and an amber light, and the words STOP when lights show
Image: Crown copyright, OGL

This sign warns of signals near a fire station. When the lights show, you must stop to let emergency vehicles out.

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What does the fire station signals sign mean?

Know your traffic signs calls it a warning of signals; FIRE may be varied to AMBULANCE or POLICE. The Highway Code lists fire stations among the places where alternately flashing red lights mean you must stop.

Quick quiz

What does the sign at the top of this page mean?

  1. Stop when the lights show for fire engines.
  2. Traffic lights are ahead.
  3. Light signals ahead at a level crossing.

Show answer

A. Stop when the lights show for fire engines. It warns of signals at a fire station, and flashing red lights there mean you must stop (Know your traffic signs, The Highway Code). Source: Know your traffic signs: warning signs, GOV.UK; The Highway Code: light signals controlling traffic, GOV.UK; Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK

Where will you see it?

On roads outside fire, ambulance and police stations.

What should you do?

Look at the signals. If the red lights flash, stop and wait until they go off.

What do people get wrong?

Driving on because no fire engine is in sight yet. The lights come on before the vehicles come out.

Common questions

What do the flashing red lights mean?

You must stop. The Highway Code says alternately flashing red lights mean you must stop at places such as fire stations.

Is there one for ambulance stations?

Yes. Know your traffic signs says FIRE may be varied to AMBULANCE or POLICE.

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Sources

Checked on 4 November 2026 against Know your traffic signs (warning signs) and The Highway Code (light signals).

  1. Know your traffic signs: warning signs, GOV.UK
  2. The Highway Code: light signals controlling traffic, GOV.UK
  3. Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Traffic sign images are Crown copyright, from the Department for Transport. Sources and image credits.

This text was written with AI help, checked against GOV.UK and approved by Fri Vei AS. Last updated .

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