There are big plans ahead for the North Fire Station! Since 1986 we have wanted to “complete” the station. While it may “look” finished, there weren’t enough resources available back then to build the other necessary component for a fully-functional fire station: residential quarters for firefighters to live in to provide 24×7 response. At long last, and with the addition of funding from Sonoma County’s 2024 ballot Measure H, the dream is becoming reality.

So, why do we need to expand/complete the station? Much has happened since 1986 and the current space available is no longer sufficient. We have more (necessary) equipment, and we have some paid administrative staff. We need to:

• Build a barracks with living space to support 24×7 response
• Increase the apparatus/equipment area to accommodate vehicles and/or equipment and separate work/clothing storage and dressing areas from the apparatus bay (for the health and safety of our responders)
• Provide working space for our paid administrative staff
• Expand and improve our training space

A team including local architect Doug Thompson, project manager and VFA President Eric Agnew, our Fire Chiefs, admin staff, and VFA Board have been working hard for the last couple of years on the necessary studies, conceptual design, and now detailed design, permitting, and funding. The conceptual design has met TSRA Design Committee approval, and permitting with Sonoma County is in progress.

The four main pieces of the project are (a) building a new building with living quarters, “up the hill”, (b) expanding the existing station towards the north, the width of one more bay, (c) converting the existing station kitchen and meeting room into office space, and (d) building a separate training center with a large multi-purpose meeting room, small kitchenette, storage and restrooms (much like the Platt Center in Gualala). The image at the top of the page shows a model of the buildings, showing the slope and the trees. The diagram below shows the layout.

Here are some different models showing the placement and slope, no trees (don’t worry we aren’t taking out all the trees).

And here are models of how the station will look from the highway.

Once the station is built, our CAL FIRE crew that is contracted by NSCFPD will shift to the NFS, while the state-mission CAL FIRE crew will remain at the station on Annapolis Road. This will provide 24×7 response from both the north and south ends of TSR.

At present the funding stream from Measure H is estimated to support all of the project except the Training Center. We are working hard to find funding sources and options to close that gap so that we can proceed with the entire project. All costs to date have been paid by the NSCVFA from your donations and proceeds from the Memorial Day Picnic. The VFA Board has already allocated $250k for this purpose and anticipates allocating another $250k over the next year. Donations have proved to be main reason that we have been able to move ahead with this project, and donations will go a long way to filling the gap between what we are able to borrow (and pay back with Measure H funds) and the actual cost of construction. If necessary will will proceed with most of the project, leave our existing meeting room alone and work on the Training Center later, but we haven’t given up yet.

So what is the timeline? With the formal submittal process underway, and barring any unforeseen legalities, we can say that we hope the break ground in the spring of 2027. The Entitlement Submittal will be followed by the Construction Documents phase and then the Building Permit Submittal. We have a lot of work to do – some mundane and some exciting – like deciding on the exterior cladding of the Barracks and Training Center. A non-combustible fire station is obviously our goal.

Stay tuned for updates as the project moves along, and thank you for your support!