Safety & Justice Center Renovation
Fire Station 2, currently located at Hover/Mountain View, began a review process back in 1995. The station was faced with a number of challenges:
- Due to a significant population increase since the building was constructed in 1967 and enlargement of the intersection this location does not provide a safe entrance into traffic.
- The growth of the city to the north and west has resulted in slower response times to this corner of the city.
- Additionally, since Station 5 (Airport and Nelson) and Station 1 (11th and Terry) were opened, the response area for Station 2 had been pushed further north and west.
- Consideration was explored to build in the same location but the property is too small for a larger building.
- Modern fire trucks will not fit in two of the three garages and the third space is very tight.
In 2018 voters approved a bond issue to replace Station 2 at a new location which left the department seeking a new property.
The city purchased property (Nov 2019) at 2212 17th Ave for the purpose of replacing the current Fire Station 2. The completion and opening of the new station is anticipated to be Summer of 2023. When complete the trucks and crew currently housed at Mountain View and Hover will move into this new location. The new station will initially only have one staffed fire engine but will be designed so it can someday house an ambulance crew as well. The garage will have space for non-staffed reserve vehicles and specialty units.
17th and Hover opening new fire station.
Fire Station 6 on South Pratt Parkway near Ken Pratt Boulevard, was built in 1971 as part of “Project 75.” It is a little over 6,200 square feet and currently houses an engine crew of three or four, an ambulance crew of two, a reserve ambulance and two reserve engines.
Station 6 has many of the same issues as Station 2. Dorms, day room, restrooms, office and fitness spaces are too small. Bunker gear is stored in the garage. There is inadequate storage for supplies and no storage for special team equipment. The building does not meet current fire, building, or energy codes and it is not ADA accessible.
Although the garage doors are 12’ high the ladder trucks will only fit if the ladder is stored perfectly and all accessories removed. In the past 12 months we have had two events where this did not occur resulting in damage to the building and the vehicle. Two of the haz-mat trucks will not fit in this station. There is very little room to work around the vehicles; the garage ceiling is not high enough to allow the cabs to be lifted for maintenance and the heaters are uncomfortably close to the trucks.
The plan for Station 6 is to temporarily relocate the crews to the Longmont Service Center in south Longmont while the current building is demolished and replaced. Space for up to five trucks, work and living areas for six crew members, with ample storage for station operations and specialty teams.