A floating San Francisco Fire Department station is making its debut Thursday right off the Embarcadero.
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After more than two years and $39.9 million, the two-story Fireboat Station 35 is finally complete and ready for operations.
The new and improved 14,900-square-foot station boasts an interesting history, as it was floated across the bay from Treasure Island, where it was originally built, to assume its position at Pier 22½.
The building sits on a 173-foot-long by 96-foot-wide float, which was designed to withstand King Tides and natural disasters. In an emergency situation, such as an earthquake or fire, the station will act as a refuge to keep life saving equipment and rescuers safe.
"This is a major milestone and exemplifies San Francisco's commitment to creating a more resilient city," Mayor London Breed said. "The new Fireboat Station 35 will improve the Fire Department's ability to meet our emergency response needs today and into the future."
The floating fire station is the first of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, according to San Francisco Department of Public Works spokeswoman Rachel Gordon, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
"The floating fire station is a welcome addition to the waterfront," Elaine Forbes, executive director of the Port of San Francisco, said. "Our firefighters will have a modern facility critical to emergency response and the unique design advances major efforts to make the waterfront resilient to both sea level rise and seismic risks."
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