Houston Fire Department ribbon-cutting

HOUSTON — Dignitaries, firefighters and the general public were on-hand for Wednesday’s ribbon-cutting and opening ceremony of the new Houston Fire Department (HFD) Station 92.

The new 7,500 square-foot facility on Kenlar Road is the second for the city augmenting Station 91 on Armstrong Road off George Parks Highway.

The ceremony included a department history from HFD Captain Christian Hartley, a project history from Houston Mayor Virgie Thompson, the ribbon-cutting and a barbeque to celebrate the occasion. Hartley began stating the department officially formed in 1978.

“We started in the basement of the Houston city government office in 1978. Our first fire truck is a 1943 International Harvester,” Hartley said. He said for years, the rig made its way around the region beginning at Elmendorf Air Force Base long before its 2010 merging with Fort Richardson. Hartley said it was basically unwanted by any local department until claimed by HFD.

“In 1981, we had three trucks,” said Hartley. He said the city’s first station, 91, was built in 1981 and subsequently expanded. “At the time, we were the biggest department in the borough,” Hartley said of the facility containing seven apparatus bays. “Today, we are the third-largest (station).”

The idea of adding a second station came following a 2006 report laying out more than 100 recommendations on how to improve the department’s ISO (International Organization of Standardization) ratings.

“Everything we’ve done is based on that report which is moving the city forward,” Hartley said. “The whole city and its residents are absolutely dedicated to (the new station).”

Funding for the new fire hall came from a $2 million facility came from a State of Alaska Commerce, Community and Economic Development grant.

“In February 2014, I traveled to Juneau representing the city of Houston. One of my goals was to advocate and pursue funding for this fine facility for the third year,” said Houston Mayor Virgie Thompson.

Thompson cited three reasons for pursuing the station. The first was to reduce response times to the southern end of the city and to bolster its next ISO rating. She said the second was to provide greater protection for area schools and senior living facilities. Lastly, Thompson said, was to educate Juneau on what city residents would face in the event of a catastrophic disaster such as an earthquake.

“Separating the city is the Castle Mountain Fault and 95 percent of the city’s residents live on (the south side) of the Little Su River,” Thompson said.

An interim Station 92 was located at the site, a repurposed septic treatment plant, prior to construction of the new facility in 2010. The city spent approximately $125,000 to equip it with a fill site. A $425,000 state capital grant provided a first-due unit in 2013.

Houston Public Works Director Tom Copelin said the new building contains three bays, administrative offices, break rooms and training rooms, restrooms and a decon-room where firefighters can clean up after a call. Copelin said the building would eventually contain bunks for full-time firefighter use.

Thompson said the grant would also cover three-quarter minus compacted gravel for the parking area around the building, and entrance awning and turnout racks for firefighter’s personal gear. Those items are scheduled for completion as quickly as possible.

Part of the ceremony included interim chief Casey Cook issuing letters of commendation to six department firefighters involved in a recent motor vehicle accident on Glenn Highway involving a fatality. Cook cited the group for the professionalism and dedication at the scene.

A barbeque capped off the ceremony.