FIREHOUSE COMPLETION LIKELY BY SUMMER’S END
The much-anticipated new firehouse 54 at 74 Commercial Street in Willits is in the final stages of construction. Fire Chief Chris Wilkes explained the station is set to be ready for the grand opening September 11 although at this point it is not a given that everything will be completely moved over and Little Lake Fire Protection District (LLF) will be operating out of the new location by that time.
The beautiful bay windows facing City Park will allow parkgoers to see the fire engines and ladder truck when they are parked in the station. Not only are the bay windows pleasant to the eye, Wilkes explained they work better, open faster and require less maintenance. The station was designed by architect Dennis Dong, who has designed many firehouses. Station 54 is unique because it is the only one Dong has designed without any landscape. Due to space restrictions, the entire property is composed of a functioning part
of the building.
The new fire station is built to meet not only the station’s current needs, but also anticipated future needs. The apparatus bay houses five fire engines and the ladder truck. Off of the apparatus bay is a shop/tool room, a locker room that will contain the turnouts where firefighters will get outfitted, a utility room and recreation/workout room.
The 270 square foot recreation room will enable the department to meet the requirement of providing for physical fitness for firefighters (the department currently meets this requirement by paying for half of gym membership for each firefighter). So the room will reduce costs for the department.
The new station contains four small dorm rooms, in case in the future the department has paid staff that need to stay onsite. Wilkes mentioned the dorms could be utilized in big events when volunteers are running multiple calls all night, such as during the big snow storm last winter, providing them a place to rest in between calls. The staff bathrooms are ADA compliant and the kitchen and day use room will be equipped with a television for firefighters to watch while eating.
The training room will host board meetings and training sessions, and is electronically set up for multiple configurations of tables, providing electronic access for the presenter at a variety of locations. The training room is connected to the lobby which will have an elaborate drinking fountain and ADA public restrooms. A large window provides access to the receptionist’s office right off of the main lobby, which looks sleek even in its uncompleted form.
Wilkes explained the top priority of the Board of Directors and staff was to have room for
fire trucks. He said, “The goal was operations, to make sure that we had a building that didn’t leak and we could provide for fire protection on this end of town with all the right apparatus.” Consequently, staff offices are smaller than at the old building. There is a file room and offices for the training officer, deputy chief, fire chief and an extra office for future expansion of a fire marshal.
The conference room is configured with a plethora of data ports that enable it to be used as an Emergency Operation Center (EOC)
that can be used in a big fire event if for some reason the EOC could not be run out of the police department. The department will utilize the room for conferences and EOC as needed.
Wilkes said, “We will be well within the budget.” The bond measure approved $7.2 million for the
project. The actual cost of the project was $5.64 and moved to $5.73 after a number of change orders. The $7.2 million includes soft costs that were built in when the project was initially started in 2013, with a different architect who was not able to follow through with the project, but still required payment. Barring any unforeseen events, the new fire station will be fully furnished and functional without going over the budget.
One change order that occurred during the project was the employee parking lot. It was originally going to be paved with asphalt however due to the sharp turns required to enter, the department realized concrete would ensure the asphalt did not get torn up during the summer months. Although the change from asphalt to concrete in the parking lot added $40,000 to the cost of the project, it will ensure the employee parking lot remains intact for the life of the building.
Wilkes encourages community members to come to the department with questions about the new station. He said, “Come talk to us, come see it.”