Eight new fire stations planned

The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District plans to spend more than $39 million to build eight fire stations around the county over the next three years.

The largest station will be in the Sunrise Boulevard and Douglas Road area of Rancho Cordova, where about 10,000 homes are planned, Chief Rick Martinez said in a report to the board.

Other stations will be built in Arden Park, Fair Oaks, Orange-vale, Rio Linda, North Highlands, Vintage Park and Glenbrook, near Watt Avenue and Folsom Boulevard.

All are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2006.

"It's an aggressive program, but Metro Fire is an aggressive agency," board President Grant B. Goold said after the unanimous March 12 vote for the plan.

Board members also agreed to pay Sacramento County $125,000 a year to collect an average of $3.3 million annually in developer fees to help pay for the fire stations.

If the county Board of Supervisors approves the agreement April 8, the Capital Fire Facilities Fee will be collected beginning April 9, Deputy Chief George B. Appel said.

The eight-station construction program is the first phase of a 20-year plan to replace, remodel, relocate and combine stations throughout Metro Fire's 417 square miles of service.

Virtually all 42 stations will be affected.

"This decision will really start the ball rolling," project manager Chuck Horel said of the board's recent vote.

Jim Ritter, deputy chief for support services, said the stations will be designed to last at least 30 to 50 years.

The first stations to be built will be:

* Station 111, 6749 Front St. in Rio Linda, will be replaced by another Station 111 in the community.

* Station 42, 5608 N. Haven Drive in North Highlands, will be replaced by a new Station 42 near Watt and Myrtle avenues.

* Station 64 on Vancouver Drive near La Riviera Drive will be replaced by a new Station 64 at Manlove Road and Casals Street in Glenbrook.

* Station 110 at Eastern Avenue and Berrendo Drive in Arden Park. The station will replace Station 107 at 970 La Sierra Drive in Arden Park and Station 110 at 1616 Mission Ave. in Carmichael.

* Station 32 at Hazel Avenue and Roediger Road in Fair Oaks will be replaced by a larger station at the same site.

* A new Station 67 will be built at Sunrise Boulevard and Douglas Road in Rancho Cordova.

* Station 29, 6314 Hickory Ave. in Orangevale, will be rebuilt near Greenback Lane and Kenneth Avenue.

* Station 54 on Frederic Avenue at Watt Avenue in Rosemont will be replaced by a new Station 54 at Vintage Park Drive and Bradshaw Road.

The largest station, at Sunrise and Douglas, will have 16,126 square feet, sleeping spaces for 13 firefighters and cost an estimated $5.4 million.

The smallest station, at Eastern and Berrendo, will be 6,702 square feet, have sleeping quarters for six firefighters and cost about $2.6 million.

Other stations generally will be 13,126 square feet, accommodate 10 firefighters and cost $4.5 million each.

Horel said 13 of the district's 42 fire stations "are considered to be in poor condition."

He said the district has earmarked about $30 million in construction funds between now and December 2006, but about $10 million more will be needed to build the eight stations.

Martinez said he is optimistic the additional money will be found.

"I'm going out to look for some new funding sources that you have not yet seen on your radar screen," Martinez told the board.