Retired fire trucks get a second life as bus stops in Kazakhstan

Fire truck converted into a bus stop / Photo: Instagram.com/112jambyl

Unusual bus stops made from decommissioned fire trucks are increasingly appearing across Kazakhstan.

The first of these unique stops appeared in 2022 in Petropavlovsk, northern Kazakhstan, where the body of a GAZ-51 truck that once served with the local Emergency Department was used for its construction.

Converted bus stop in Kyzylorda

Following Petropavlovsk’s lead, later that year a similar stop was installed in Kyzylorda, in southern Kazakhstan.

Fire truck converted into a bus stop / Photo: Emergency Department press office

Located on Salamatov Street next to Specialized Fire Station No. 1 and a monument honoring fallen firefighters, the stop’s placement was deliberate — the site has long served as a training ground for professional rescuers.

Ekibastuz’s local attraction

Meanwhile, in April 2022, another fire-truck-themed stop was unveiled in Ekibastuz to mark the city’s 65th anniversary.

Fire truck converted into a bus stop / Photo: Emergency Department press office

Installed near Specialized Fire Station No. 2, the stop quickly became a local attraction. Firefighters, veterans and residents attended the opening ceremony, and it’s now a popular photo spot.

Aktau’s bus stop

Continuing this spread, in 2023, the western city of Aktau introduced its own version for Rescuer’s Day.

Fire truck converted into a bus stop / Photo: Emergency Department press office

Designed in the shape of a fire truck, the stop features interior displays outlining safety rules and emergency procedures.

Creative installation in Taraz

Soon after, in summer 2025, Taraz joined the list of cities with these creative installations.

Fire truck converted into a bus stop in Taraz / Photo: Instagram.com/112jambyl

The bus stop, located next to Fire Station No. 4, showcases impressive attention to detail: the trash can is fashioned from a 50-liter extinguisher, and the lamps are made from smaller five-liter ones.

Trash can fashioned from a 50-liter fire extinguisher / Photo: Instagram.com/112jambyl

New addition in Atyrau

Then, in October 2025, a similar art piece appeared in Atyrau. Local news outlets report that it is located in one of the city’s residential neighborhoods.

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Notably, the trend has yet to reach Kazakhstan’s largest cities — Almaty, Astana and Shymkent — where no such fire-truck bus stops have been installed.