While planning to best serve the community’s current and future needs, the Fire District must take into account the scarcity of suitable land, which will most likely grow even scarcer and more expensive. After researching and evaluation suitable locations for several years, ERFPD has determined it is more cost-effective to build fewer fire stations, utilizing land it already owns.
Because the District operates as a system in which each engine company depends on the resources of other companies for many incidents, and because the District does not want to keep going back to the voters to request additional funding, the intent is to combine the costs for the new facilities into one bond request that will allow the District to implement its critical facility plan by replacing deficient stations in a cohesive and coordinated manner.
These stations will be built with the capability to house more than one company in the future, so that the District can appropriately respond to projected increases in the District’s call load. A dual company station is capable of permanent staffing by eight firefighters, allowing for response by both an engine company (first on scene focused on interior fire suppression) and a ladder truck company (second due and focused on exterior fire suppression, usually through the roof).
AVON FIRE STATION: The District has spent considerable time studying the effect the new Avon location will have on response times, and has determined that not only will response times improve in areas such as Wildridge and Mountain Star, but moving the station out of the congested Town core will improve public safety by removing the need to respond through a heavily-used pedestrian area.
The current facility was constructed in 1980; since that time, the size of firefighting apparatus has increased and the bays cannot accommodate modern apparatus such as the ladder truck, which currently is located 15-20 minutes away from the core of Avon where it is needed most. Even if the building could be retrofitted to accommodate the increased height requirements, an old water tank is buried under the existing apparatus bays, making it incapable of supporting the weight of a ladder truck. In addition to the functional deficiencies, significant capital improvements will be required just to maintain the building (e.g., roofing, balconies, painting, doors, etc.). Investing significant dollars for renovation on a parcel not owned by the District simply is not prudent, and maintenance and repair costs continue to grow on an annual basis. The new station will also be capable of housing additional equipment, currently housed in non-operational stations which adds to operating costs and places important specialized equipment in less than optimal locations.
EDWARDS FIRE STATION: The current fire station in Edwards was built as a temporary facility in 1985. The growth in Edwards has far outpaced the ability of the Edwards station to effectively respond to the Edwards community as it exists today, much less any future growth. The building is infested with rodents, is not structurally sound, and significant capital improvements would be required just to maintain a facility that has long outlasted its intended lifespan. An expanded station will also allow the District to house reserve and highly specialized equipment centrally.
These stations will be built with the capability to house more than one company in the future, so that the District can appropriately respond to projected increases in the District’s call load. A dual company station is capable of permanent staffing by eight firefighters, allowing for response by both an engine company (first on scene focused on interior fire suppression) and a ladder truck company (second due and focused on exterior fire suppression, usually through the roof).
AVON FIRE STATION: The District has spent considerable time studying the effect the new Avon location will have on response times, and has determined that not only will response times improve in areas such as Wildridge and Mountain Star, but moving the station out of the congested Town core will improve public safety by removing the need to respond through a heavily-used pedestrian area.
The current facility was constructed in 1980; since that time, the size of firefighting apparatus has increased and the bays cannot accommodate modern apparatus such as the ladder truck, which currently is located 15-20 minutes away from the core of Avon where it is needed most. Even if the building could be retrofitted to accommodate the increased height requirements, an old water tank is buried under the existing apparatus bays, making it incapable of supporting the weight of a ladder truck. In addition to the functional deficiencies, significant capital improvements will be required just to maintain the building (e.g., roofing, balconies, painting, doors, etc.). Investing significant dollars for renovation on a parcel not owned by the District simply is not prudent, and maintenance and repair costs continue to grow on an annual basis. The new station will also be capable of housing additional equipment, currently housed in non-operational stations which adds to operating costs and places important specialized equipment in less than optimal locations.
EDWARDS FIRE STATION: The current fire station in Edwards was built as a temporary facility in 1985. The growth in Edwards has far outpaced the ability of the Edwards station to effectively respond to the Edwards community as it exists today, much less any future growth. The building is infested with rodents, is not structurally sound, and significant capital improvements would be required just to maintain a facility that has long outlasted its intended lifespan. An expanded station will also allow the District to house reserve and highly specialized equipment centrally.
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