I am going back through some areas to see what I missed (after completing all the expansion packs) and I notice that I never made it into the fire and police stations in camp searchlight. I see that you need keys to get inside but I can not find any around town. what is the status on these two buildings....can you get inside them? (or are they just there for looks?)

You can get inside them, the person who has the keys is a merc in the basemant of the church. The only way to get into the police and fire stations(and get what I think is the second best melee weapon in the vanilla game) is to do the quest that he gives you.

There is a quest you must do, for some scavenger called Logan - he can be located in the basemant of western church(The first one you see when fast travelling)
His quest is called "Booted" and I would advise against killing Boxcar in Nipton as it is an instant fail.

Almost. The quest given by Logan is Wheel of Fortune and I remember it well because when I traveled all the way back to Boxcars in Nipton,
he wouldn't say anything new. Probably because I had visited a certain location by that time. Bah.
The only option left to me was to get back to Logan and... Take care of him.
I didn't much like him at first sight

When you get the keys and enter the Fire Station, be ready for a... *sigh* ... BIG surprise.
Cheers!

You dont HAVE to do the quest for the guy in the basemant of the church in searchlight. You could allwatys just kill him and avoid the stupid quest that tends to bug out. |Ransack his body and you'll find the key and some other stuff that may well come in handy..

Huh? That guy was never there when I went through it...the basemant of the church was completely empty. T_T

Damn it "Booted" is the quest involving the Powder Ganger hostages!

http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Wheel_of_Fortune is the quest you seek the complete.

Try the other church.

There are two churches, one has a box of mininukes or holy frag grenades, or some people wandering around.

Go to the Church that has radios inside and turret sentries. In the basemant should be 3-4 guys, one called Logan, and loads of radio equipment and loot/