The Central Fire Station is the oldest fire station in Singapore and it opened in 1909. The idea to construct a professional Fire Brigade was conceived after a fire in Kling Street on 7 November 1855. However, it was 14 years later before a volunteer fire service was started and a further 36 years before Singapore's first proper fire station (Central Fire Station) was built. It became so invaluable that during the Japanese Occupation, the Japanese retained the British firemen in their jobs and spared their lives. The central fire station became a national monument on 18 December 1998.