PORTLAND FIRE & RESCUE DEDICATES NEW FIRE STATION

Posted: September 7th, 2006 7:54 AM



What: Grand Opening for Portland Fire & Rescue Station 27

When: Sunday, September 10th

5:00PM to 7:00PM

Where: 3130 NW Skyline Blvd.



Photo opportunities: Ribbon "chopping" (we use a fire ax, of course) PF&R color guard, tours of the station, unveiling of featured art in station, community BBQ, comments from Commissioner Erik Sten, Chief Dave Sprando, Station 27 Captain Phil Dearixon, and representatives from the community.



Portland Fire & Rescue, in partnership with the City's Bureau of General Services, is opening a new fire station. The crew and equipment of Station 27 will improve response capabilities in our City, and provide additional community resources.



A station-location study conducted in the 1990s found that the City needed to build a fire station in the west hills to improve response capabilities, which in turn will help save lives and property. Last summer's five-alarm apartment complex fire, which occurred on the boundary of Forest Park, provides a timely illustration of the need for Station 27. The facility will house one fire engine and a crew of four, which includes a firefighter/paramedic, an officer, and two firefighters.



PF&R worked with a Station Advisory Committee (SAC), and hosted a series of public meetings allowed the neighborhood to provide input into the siting and design of the station.



The station features art- a waterfall made of stacked wood- by Malia Jensen, a nationally recognized Portland artist currently working in New York.





Background of Improvement Program -



PF&R built Station 27 because a station location study determined that this move would enhance emergency response in the area. The construction project is funded by a Fire & Rescue Bond, passed by voters in 1998. The ten-year program (now in the 8th year) will improve public safety in numerous ways:



• Strengthen existing Fire & Rescue stations to survive an earthquake, according to Oregon's essential facility code. For some stations, it is more cost-effective to relocate rather than renovate.

• Build new stations to provide quicker response times for the growing population and under-served areas. Others are relocated for this purpose.

• Upgrade the facilities to accommodate men and women firefighters, and provide more community features.

• Install fire sprinklers into all fire & rescue stations.



#PF&R#