Dallas Fire-Rescue opened a replacement for a station in West Dallas that's stood since 1954. The 13,000-square-foot station, near Singleton Boulevard and Hampton Road, is about twice the size of the previous station.
The new Dallas Fire-Rescue Station 36 will house a battalion chief, engine, and truck.
"We also have an extra bay where we can grow with the community," Dallas Fire-Rescue Chief Dominique Artis said. "Our other station was kind of cramped, small."
Artis said the station was built with the potential for future expansion. He said as West Dallas grows, the station could hold a bigger ladder truck or add an ambulance bay.
"We're trying to think through how these stations can grow with the community as well as provide everlasting fire rescue services," he said.
Voters approved the replacement with a 2017 bond. In addition to the replacement, the bond included money for a new station. Dallas Fire-Rescue Station 58 will be near the Cypress Waters development in Northwest Dallas.
"I think this shows the taxpayer and especially the residents here in West Dallas, the city of Dallas does care about you," Dallas City Councilman Omar Narvaez said. "You aren't forgotten like you were in the past."
Narvaez said the new station and replacement would put equipment and manpower in more strategic places.
"Can we get there on time, and do we have the men and women to do the work?" he said. "They don't consider themselves heroes, but to us, they are."
The expansion of Station 36 includes more living space for firefighters, workout equipment, and individual sleeping pods for firefighters.
"You have your own particular area where you can rest, relax and get ready for your next call," Artis said.
The station also has decontamination rooms and a transition area so firefighters can keep carcinogens out of living areas. The station also has the equipment to clean their gear. The CDC and International Association of Firefighters say occupational cancer is the leading cause of death of firefighters. FEMA says firefighters have a 9% greater risk of developing cancer and a 14% greater risk of dying from cancer than the general public.
"This station is state of the art. It has different areas that keep contaminants out," Artis said. "We're excited about that. We're always looking to bring cancer down in the fire service. We take it very seriously. We want to make sure our firefighters are safe."
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