Mayor Jim Suttle, Omaha Fire Chief Mike McDonnell and members of the Elkhorn Suburban Fire District (ESFD) broke ground today on a new fire station serving western Omaha and the surrounding area in the ESFD.
The proposed Fire Station for the ESFD and the City of Omaha will be a three bay 9,000 square foot facility located on a 3.2 acre site located at 202nd and Atlas Street. The facility is intended to house an Engine Company, one Water Tanker, and one Rescue Squad. The facility will have ten bedrooms to house on duty captains and firefighters. Firefighters will respond to 911 calls that are transferred to this station.
“The new Elkhorn fire station is a fulfillment of the commitment to residents of Elkhorn to provide the same level of services that existed prior to annexation,” Mayor Suttle said. “The need for emergency services is greater than ever as the population on the western edge of our City continues to grow. This fire station is key to providing those services in the years to come.”
The project uses the Design-Build project delivery method lead by Ayars & Ayars, Inc. with Architecture Etcetera.
The building incorporates high quality, low maintenance materials of industrial service length. Brick and stucco with a hip-sloped shingled roof system enhance the beauty of the exterior façade. The interior is designed for a 24 hour 7 days a week use and provides a fire sprinkler system for protection. The building systems are state of the art technology with the ability to adapt for future needs.
The Elkhorn Fire Station is being built as a result of an inter-local agreement between the City of Omaha and the ESFD to provide fire protection and emergency medical services to residents of western Omaha and the ESFD. The ESFD will pay the costs of building and operating the fire station, which will be staffed with members of the Omaha Fire Department.
Firefighters will operate on three 24-hour shifts with changeover in the morning. While on duty, they will maintain and clean the equipment and facility, train on protocol, procedures and the use of equipment, work out to maintain fitness, respond to all emergency and non-emergency calls for service to both the Elkhorn Suburban Fire District and City of Omaha.
The opening of this station will provide for enhanced fire protection and emergency medical services to the residents of the Elkhorn Suburban Fire District and the City of Omaha.
Firefighters may provide tours of the new station when requested by small groups. It may be used as a polling place if needed. Public restrooms are provided for these activities.
The project team has been working with the Fire Department and the City of Omaha facility management team. Documents will be completed and Construction will start this summer. with a project completion in the spring of 2011.
