(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - The City of Ketchikan will officially dedicate its new fire station – Fire Station No. 1 – on Tuesday, July 3rd. The new fire station is said to be a state-of-the-art facility that will meet the future needs of Ketchikan's community and will support the training needs of Ketchikan firefighters. This new station will help ensure that Ketchikan residents receive the highest quality of emergency response.

“This station is a real example of Ketchikan’s commitment to community service and the public safety,” said Mayor Lew Williams III. “We are grateful to the community and the work of Senator Bert Stedman for giving us a facility that will truly meet the needs of our professional firefighters in service to the community."

Fire Station No. 1
Photographed during construction March 2012
Photograph by Carl Thompson ©2012

Fire Chief Frank Share added, “We thank the community for its investment in ensuring the safety of both our citizens and visitors. It is our goal to be good stewards of this building that has been provided by the community, and we look forward to maintaining it and serving the public for many years.”

Opened in May 2012, Fire Station No. 1 is a vital component of the City of Ketchikan Fire Department's system and was designed for an estimated life span of 75 years. Fire Station No. 1 has greater capacity for emergency response equipment and on-site training and a sustainable design. The station is located at 70 Bawden Street in downtown Ketchikan.

The station is fully staffed with 15 firefighters/EMTs over three shifts supplemented by a force of 25 volunteer firefighter/EMTs. Station One also houses the administrative staff consisting of the Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief, Fire Marshal and the Administrative Assistant.

The station has four equipment bays and is home to Engine 1, Ladder 1, Medic 11, Dive Rescue 1, and the Hazmat Trailer. This is the first Ketchikan station to have bi-fold doors, which are said to be easy to maintain, faster to open and can easily be manually operated. The doors also are large enough to accommodate emergency vehicles of standard size, ultimately saving the community money in that equipment no longer must be special ordered, as had been required in the previous fire station.

There is a LED alerting system which is a state-of-the-art system that will alert firefighters with both sound and light displays. By starting softer and increasing in intensity, the system lessens the stress in waking up firefighters in the middle of the night.

There are six separate gender-neutral dormitory quarters (private bedroom and bathroom, and storage for three shifts) for firefighters, providing improved conditions for Ketchikan's ever-growing number of female firefighters. The residential level includes a commercial-grade kitchen, with storage for all three shifts.

The state-of-the-art training room will allow for more efficient training of larger groups of emergency responders in an environment that is technologically modern. The training area also is dual purpose and also will serve as an Emergency Operation Center in the event of a local disaster.

Recycled materials were used in many areas of the construction of the new building. The total cost of the entire project was $12.7 million. This includes the cost of construction and site preparation for the 28,000 sq.ft. station which cost approximately $9.5 million.

Funding for the project was provided through a state grant supported by Senator Bert Stedman and bonds authorized by Ketchikan voters in 2010.

The public is invited to the official dedication ceremony on Tuesday, July 3rd at 2pm. As part of the event, the Ketchikan Fire Department will conduct a ceremonial uncoupling of a fire hose, which will serve as the appropriate “ribbon-cutting” for this special building.

The Honorable Senator Bert Stedman will give the keynote address at the dedication ceremony.

The City of Ketchikan and the Ketchikan Fire Department also invites the public to its Open House on Wednesday, July 4th, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Visitors can tour the station, meet the firefighters, and check out the equipment. The Ketchikan Volunteer Fire Department will be offering food and beverages as part of their annual fundraising.

The station is located at 70 Bawden Street in downtown Ketchikan, adjacent to the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center. Parking around Fire Station No. 1 can be challenging during summer months; and it is suggested that those attending the dedication and open house walk or take transit if possible.

Edited by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News: 

Ketchikan Fire Department, City of Ketchikan

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