Palm Springs Fire previews Open House amid push for new fire station in downtown area
Gavin Nguyen
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Fire Department is giving the media a first look before it hosts an Open House event next Monday.
News Channel 3’s Shay Lawson reported last night on the push from nearby businesses to stop the fire station due to concerns about parking.
Fire Chief Paul Alvarado said the downtown fire station sees the highest call volume in the city and desperately needs an upgrade.
He said, “This is the busiest area that we have in the city, the most call volume, the highest frequency of fires, and again, the highest risk based on the type of buildings that we have here. This is where our hotels are. This is where our restaurants are.”
With an increasing number of high-rise buildings, firefighters said they need the proper equipment to respond to emergencies. The department’s only ladder truck is currently stationed at Fire Station #2, at the airport, and would greatly benefit from a tiller truck stationed in the downtown area. Featuring a longer ladder and greater urban maneuverability, the addition of a tiller truck would be a valuable asset – and one that isn’t possible with the current Fire Station #1.
As it stands, the downtown fire station is too small. An expansion would allow the department to build a larger apparatus bay, capable of fitting larger vehicles.
And equipment aside, fire leaders showed our crews inside the living quarters 18 firefighters cycle in and out of with each shift. Deputy Chief Jeff van Lierop allowed News Channel 3 to see cramped living spaces, limited storage space, subpar heating and cooling systems, and a single shower shared by six personnel.
Chief Alvarado said the upgrades are needed. “For me to recruit, hire and retain the very best people, I have to have the best facilities.”
He also acknowledged the pushback from residents. News Channel 3’s Gavin Nguyen brought their concerns to him during the tour, asking, “When we go back to the parking, I know that was one of the big questions. You said this is an open conversation?”
“It is an open conversation. You know, we have to start somewhere. And we’ve had a lot of conversation with some of the local business owners,” Alvarado responded. “I want to hear the feedback I want to make sure they have an opportunity to talk to me and what are their needs here in the local businesses.”
Alvarado hopes the public Open House next Monday will offer that opportunity for residents and businesses to share their thoughts, and hopefully, brainstorm a compromise that will still allow business access – as well as maintain the functionality of an expanded fire station.
“Our goal on Monday is to have people come in, take a look and provide comment. I’m going to have staff here that’s going to take down their questions. We’re going to get back to them with answers,” reassured Alvarado.
Deputy Chief van Lierop agreed. He highlighted what he hopes the public takes away from the upcoming event.
“At any given weekend, we can have over 100,000 people in the city, in the downtown area, and we have to be able to protect them and provide EMS support for all of those people in the city,” the deputy chief explained. “And we are having a difficult time doing that in the current conditions that we’re living in.”