New 7-3 public safety building in Meadow Lakes ahead of its time

MEADOW LAKES — The new public safety building 7-3 in Meadow Lakes is half fleet maintenance facility, half fire department, and unlike any other fire station.

The state of the art facility allows for the West Lakes Fire Department to be centralized, as they had been scattered in different locations. With increasing rescue calls and a growing community, the new facility can better service the five mile radius around the station. The fire station side of the building offers new capabilities for fire training and equipment maintenance. It offers a safer environment for training and maintenance.

"No fire stations are similar to this one," said Deputy Director of Emergency Services Ken Barkley.

The station is able to house 10 firefighters with bedrooms, a common room, a weight room, a state-of-the-art kitchen with three refrigerators. Each bedroom is equipped with an alert system in case of emergency that turns lights and sounds on to wake the fire fighters.

The maintenance facility was much needed. The old Borough maintenance facility was in downtown Wasilla in an old fire station. Vehicles could only be lifted three feet off the ground. Lack of garage bay space meant vehicle maintenance was backlogged.

The fleet maintenance, half of building 7-3, has four large bays. 250 gallon drums of lube travel across the ceiling of the facility to each bay. Lifts can be moved to where the vehicle has been parked allowing for ease of access. The higher ceilings mean that mechanics no longer have to crawl under vehicles. The added space equates to a much safer and more efficient work environment.

Rescue vehicles such as snowmachines, argos, and 4-wheelers can be parked inside which decreases maintenance and response time.

"It gives us the capability to keep our fleet moving. There's less down time and a safer work environment," said Barkley

The West Lakes facility is the central location for all of the Borough vehicles spanning from Sutton past Trapper Creek.

The size of the fire station will allow firefighters to park inside for rehab, and training. A hose dryer that can be lifted more than 30 feet in the air to air dry will keep hoses in use longer.

A training room with a 50-person capacity will hold National Fire Academy classes. A lab for radios is maintained by a radio tech to keep equipment functioning properly.

State representatives worked to ensure that grant money was secured to build the facility. The property was bought eight years ago. Barkley said that years of planning went into meticulously constructing the building.

"They were instrumental. Without them it wouldn't have come to fruition," said Barkley.

Barkley said that in disastrous events such as the Sockeye fire, the station could serve as a headquarters. The entire facility is on a generator backup.

"It's all about making it safer for firefighters," said Barkley