Hot new fire station opens
Post Independent Staff
GLENWOOD SPRINGS – With a single slice of the yellow fire-line tape, the city’s newest firehouse was opened Friday and ready for action.
Glenwood Springs Fire Station No. 3 went online shortly after noon Friday, when chief Mike Piper called dispatch to say the downtown station was officially closed and the new station, located in the Red Feather Ridge subdivision on Four Mile Road, was open.
“Today is a historic day in the history of the Glenwood Springs Fire Department,” Piper declared, “because we have a brand-new building that makes our job a lot easier.”
Mayor Don Vanderhoof and Glenwood Springs Rural Fire District board President Chuck Johnson cut the yellow plastic tape marked “fire line.”
Fire district board members Harlan Porter, Loren Anderson, George Morris and John Taufer stood behind them in the front door of the firehouse.
“We’re really excited about this; it’s really a beautiful station,” Vanderhoof said.
The 5,000-square-foot station, which looks more like a luxury home than a firehouse, boasts two drive-through bays that will house four emergency vehicles, an open kitchen and day room, living quarters for six firefighters and a community room with three refrigerators.
Piper explained that each of the three shifts of firefighters prefers to have their own refrigerator to avoid spats over stockpiled groceries.
In the living room, four overstuffed recliners were grouped around a large television.
“We’ll be here for the Super Bowl,” said Andrew McGregor, the city’s community development director.
The station cost $919,000 to build.
“Both the city and the district can be very proud,” Vanderhoof said.
Station architect Yael Nyholm and project manager Joe Ward, both with OZ Architecture of Denver, were beaming with pride as they ate a free catered lunch in the newly constructed station.
“(City Manager) Mike Copp said he wanted mountain contemporary with a residential feel,” Ward said. “I think we hit the mark on that.”
Nyholm said she’s “pleased and thrilled with the final product.”
“It was a pleasure working with the fire district and Mike Piper,” she said. “Hopefully they’ll enjoy it.”
Contact Greg Masse: 945-8515, ext. 511
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