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10 November 2023
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Fire stations of the world: Coastside Fire Station No 41, El Granada, California, US
For decades, Coastside Fire Protection District crews worked out of an aging, dilapidated building. But with recent the opening of a modern fire station, that era has come to an end. The new state-of-the-art firehouse will now host the crews serving the communities near Half Moon Bay and El Granada. The new station replaces a 50-year-old building and has come to fruition after six years of planning and construction. A major advantage of the new station is its design for the health and safety of its firefighters.
Nestled into a neighbourhood, 16-foot-high retaining walls were elegantly incorporated to maximise the size of the lot while also protecting the citizens from fire station activity. Additional space on the site also meant additional storage for equipment necessary to protect the surrounding community.
The new station can now hold a total of six apparatus whereas the old station could only fit one engine and a ladder truck. The new station also features a training room. A refuelling station is conveniently positioned at the edge of the property.
The biggest operational change may be that firefighters no longer have to back trucks into tiny garages. Now they can safely drive through large equipment bays.
In addition to providing more space and amenities to serve the growing needs of the Fire Protection District, personnel and community safety was paramount throughout the design process. Personnel now have division of clean and dirty zones within the station, keeping harmful carcinogens at a safe distance from the areas they work and live. The station floorplan was designed to reduce response times by centralising the apparatus bay entrance, easily accessible from anywhere in the single-storey station.
The old station had one shower for everyone. The new station has three. The old firehouse kitchen was something from the ’80s, while the new station’s beautiful facilities are capable of feeding many more firefighters.
The Coastside Fire Protection District paid nearly $13 million for the new station but did not have to raise the funds though bonds or taxes.
“This fire station will have a huge impact on the safety of the San Mateo County Coast. It offers increased fire capabilities, more apparatus storage, and more living space for fire personnel in a fire-prone area of San Mateo County.” – press release from CAL FIRE.
Source: Jeff Katz Architecture, CAL FIRE
Nestled into a neighbourhood, 16-foot-high retaining walls were elegantly incorporated to maximise the size of the lot while also protecting the citizens from fire station activity. Additional space on the site also meant additional storage for equipment necessary to protect the surrounding community.
The new station can now hold a total of six apparatus whereas the old station could only fit one engine and a ladder truck. The new station also features a training room. A refuelling station is conveniently positioned at the edge of the property.
The biggest operational change may be that firefighters no longer have to back trucks into tiny garages. Now they can safely drive through large equipment bays.
In addition to providing more space and amenities to serve the growing needs of the Fire Protection District, personnel and community safety was paramount throughout the design process. Personnel now have division of clean and dirty zones within the station, keeping harmful carcinogens at a safe distance from the areas they work and live. The station floorplan was designed to reduce response times by centralising the apparatus bay entrance, easily accessible from anywhere in the single-storey station.
The old station had one shower for everyone. The new station has three. The old firehouse kitchen was something from the ’80s, while the new station’s beautiful facilities are capable of feeding many more firefighters.
The Coastside Fire Protection District paid nearly $13 million for the new station but did not have to raise the funds though bonds or taxes.
“This fire station will have a huge impact on the safety of the San Mateo County Coast. It offers increased fire capabilities, more apparatus storage, and more living space for fire personnel in a fire-prone area of San Mateo County.” – press release from CAL FIRE.
Source: Jeff Katz Architecture, CAL FIRE
