The city is building a new fire house with state-of-the-art safety features to replace the Station 14, where space is so tight firefighters have to work out next to diesel exhaust.
Tucson is moving forward with the construction of a new fire station just northwest of Tucson International Airport, a project officials said is critical to the health and safety of first responders.
Officials said the lot is in an “optimal location” because it provides easy access to a main roadway so firefighters will no longer have to contend with the neighborhood’s many speed bumps, sharp turns and residents who may be walking on the street during responses. The facility will have features such as airlocked doors that prevent toxins from entering areas like the kitchen and living quarters where firefighters sleep during 24 hour shifts. It will also include “wash stations” where they can clean up so they don’t track chemicals into other parts of the station.
The assistant chief said the new facility will reduce that risk significantly and create a far safer environment for Tucson’s first responders. He added that the extra space will also help TFD take on additional resources down the road, like more EMS teams or fire engines. The 2017 sales tax has also funded resources like new police vehicles and equipment for the 911 center. Gulotta said the program has been “very successful” in creating safer conditions for TFD personnel so far.