Fire Stations Getting Facelifts
Apr 24, 2024 09:27AM ● By Angela Underwood
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - Three West Sacramento Fire Department station improvements require hundreds of thousands in repairs, renovations and maintenance.
Fire Station 45, constructed in 2006, houses all administrative staff and serves as the location for the Fire Administration Division. The station's worn-out carpet, heavily worn-out workstations and furniture, and cracked drywall and paint call for restoration. In 2023, Pro Builders was awarded the project, finding additional areas of improvement, including painting and replacing flooring in the kitchen and two offices.
Officials adopted the biennial Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget for Fiscal Years 2023-2025 for the Fire Station 45 Improvements Project, appropriating $500,000; however, additional funding of $80,000 is needed to finish.
Pictured here is a West Sacramento Fire Department collage. Photo courtesy of the West Sacramento Fire Department
Before approving the funds, Councilwoman Verna Sulpizio Hull said she recently attended an open house at Fire Station 45 and has driven with Chief Steve Binns to the city's other fire stations.
"I have seen firsthand these upgrades that are being recommended tonight, and I am in full support of all of them," Sulpizio Hull said. "I am very happy to see this work being done, and I want to compliment the capital projects team who we have heard amazing things they have been doing to manage projects."
After the meeting, the Territorial Dispatch spoke with Chief Binns, who said ensuring that equipment and resources are maintained and improved is essential to facilitating rapid and effective emergency response and prompt, effective mitigation of emergency incidents.
West Sacramento Fire Station 45 needs capital improvements. Photo courtesy of the West Sacramento Fire Department
"Failing to maintain equipment and resources properly can cause delays in responses, where seconds can be critical and mean the difference between life and death," Binns said. "Furthermore, failing to maintain emergency equipment meticulously can lead to any number of downstream calamities, endanger the public and first responders, and imperil our ability to protect life, property, and the environment."
That is exactly the case with West Sacramento's oldest fire station, Fire Station 41, built in 1938. The station's lighting controller recently failed, leaving the facility in the dark. Ireland Electric was selected to perform the emergency repairs.
Fire Station 43, constructed in 1970, has a single restroom for personnel and the public that is not only inadequate but also fails to meet proper code restrictions. The aging infrastructure is evident through visible wear and tear, moisture damage, ventilation inadequacies, and recurrent plumbing issues, which is why officials appropriated $480,700 to TPM Construction Inc. and Indigo | Hammond + Playle Architects.
However, additional funding of $460,812 is needed, so officials approved transferring $350,000 and $15,455.27 from the capital improvement projects and appropriating an extra $95,356.73 from the General Facilities Fund.
Chief Binns said West Sacramento utilizes American Rescue Plan Act funds and routinely pursues FEMA grants and many other state and regional opportunities. In the meantime, Councilwoman Quirina Orozco agreed all improvements were necessary.
West Sacramento Fire Station 41 calls for improvements for facilities to remain up to code. Photo courtesy of the West Sacramento Fire Department
"I can speak for the entire council when I say we agree and thank you so much for taking the time. Thank you, Chief Binns, for providing that opportunity, which begets a different lens of issues facing our fire department," Orozco said.
Binns said proper upkeep of fire equipment is one of the most important tasks firefighters perform daily.
"Ensuring the response-readiness of all emergency equipment enables us to have confidence that when community members call 9-1-1, we can respond quickly, safely, and operate with the highest degrees of effectiveness and efficiency in mitigating whatever the emergency may be," Binns said.
Speaking of timing, Sulpizio Hull said the fire department needs these improvements now.
"They have been waiting, and it's time," Sulpizio Hull said.
Chief Binns said his department is extremely grateful for the recent approval of the three Fire Department-related capital projects at the last City Council meeting.
"The approval of these items demonstrates the commitment that the city council and city manager's office have toward ensuring that the fire department is well-supported and has the resources it needs to protect life, property, and the environment," Binns said.
The chief also said he was thankful for the leadership and staff from the city's Capital Projects department.
"They are true professionals and the champions of moving important projects like these through," Binns said.
