Sac Metro to replace 3 fire stations
By Dirk Werkman -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Thursday, August 4, 2005
Story appeared in Antelope north sacramento section, Page G1
Three outdated fire stations in North Highlands, Rio
Linda and Orangevale are scheduled to be replaced by the Sacramento
Metropolitan Fire District because they can't accommodate modern fire
equipment and were built before women became firefighters.
Officials hope to have the stations open by the fall of
2007.
 In
the case of Station 42 in North Highlands, the facility is so close to
commercial facilities that firefighters' sleep has been disturbed by
customers ordering hot dogs over a loudspeaker.
Metro Fire board members voted 6-0 on July 13 to approve preliminary
plans for Station 42, to be built at 3551 Myrtle Ave. in North Highlands;
Station 111, to be built at 6609 Rio Linda Blvd., Rio Linda; and Station 29
at 8681 Greenback Lane, Orangevale.
Chuck Horel, project manager for the new fire stations, said approval of
the preliminary plans will allow the district to seek permits from
Sacramento County to build the stations.
He said applications for the necessary permits were filed Monday with the
county for use permits needed to build stations 111 and 29. He said Station
42 won't require a use permit, so work can begin on final drawings for the
station, and a building permit will be sought later.
Horel estimated it will cost $5.2 million to $5.6 million to build
Station 42, $5.5 million to $5.9 million to build Station 111 and $6 million
to $6.5 million to complete Station 29.
Each station will have sleeping space for 10 firefighters and space for
the latest fire equipment.
The new stations will be among eight the district will build during the
next few years, including two under construction - Station 32 at Hazel
Avenue and Roediger Lane in Fair Oaks, and Station 107 at Eastern Avenue and
Berrendo Drive in the Arden area.
Station 42, now at 5608 North Haven Drive, is a good example of why the
district is building new facilities.
When Battalion Chief Pat Ellis, who oversees the station, began his
career in 1985, he was assigned to Station 42, a small facility squeezed
between a Weinerschnitzel restaurant and some homes.
Firefighters have complained over the years of noise from people ordering
food and also of noise from a nearby bar, where the sounds of motorcycles
and broken glass can be heard late into the night, Ellis said.
Only two people can get into the kitchen at once, and the dining and
television area is too close to the restrooms, he said. Ellis noted the
station was built long before there were women firefighters, and increased
privacy is needed.
"Firefighters have taken care of the station, and its served the
community well," Ellis said.
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