October 6, 2015

Vancouver unveils designs for new fire stations

Image courtesy of the city of Vancouver [enlarge]

The city of Vancouver has unveiled designs for two new fire stations.

Pre-application project meetings are set for this Thursday to discuss Fire Stations 1 and 2. The meetings are scheduled to start at 9 a.m. at 415 W. Sixth St., in the Birch Conference Room on the second floor.

According to the city's web site, the stations will be rebuilt in new locations in order to improve service and response times.

The project cost, including design and property acquisition, is $10 million. Both fire stations will have apparatus bays, work rooms and living spaces with dorm rooms, a kitchen and gym. Both will be built at the same time, by the same contractor.

The city hopes to seek construction bids on the new stations in May or June of 2016, with construction expected to start in July.

Fire Station 1 will be located at 2607 Main St. The 10,200-square-foot station will include a fire fighter memorial plaque at the entrance.

Fire Station 2 will be about 13,300 square feet, with battalion chief quarters and a community/training room. The site is located at the southwest corner of Norris Road and Fourth Plain Boulevard.

The city approved the preliminary designs in September, after seeking input from fire fighters and the public. The designs feature brick exteriors, with sloping roofs and prominent beams. Mackenzie of Portland designed the stations with the help of the Vancouver Fire Department and city of Vancouver Project Management staff.

After completing a long range facility plan in 2014, the city found it would be best to relocate both stations to improve response times to the highest call volume areas. The new sites will also maximize coverage for all four fire stations in the southwest part of the city.