
Charlotte County (FL) Fire & EMS has moved into its new Station 10 on Don Pedro Island, and it’s awaiting completion this Spring of two mainland fire stations: Station 2 in the Murdock Village area and Station 5 in Punta Gorda.
John Molenda, Charlotte County’s deputy chief, says all three stations have extra space in them for expansion because the county is experiencing quick community growth, and include in their design decontamination spaces to reduce the risk of particulate contamination. He notes that the county operates 16 fire stations, staffed by approximately 250 firefighter/EMTs and paramedics.
Station 10 is a two-story, two-bay station built on a barrier island that’s only accessible by ferry or personal watercraft, says Karl Bernhard, principal of Sweet-Sparkman Architects, the firm that designed and built the structure on a design/build contract, partnering with Magnum Builders. “The fact that the station is on an island meant we had to bring concrete trucks and all building materials over by ferry, which was a challenge,” Bernhard says. “Also, the station is located 1,000 feet from the Gulf coast and is in a FEMA flood zone, so we had to raise the level of the station’s living spaces 15 feet.”
He notes that the ground floor holds the two apparatus bays, a turnout gear storage room, and a general storage area. “The slab supporting the fire trucks had to be frangible where it would break away under a certain amount of storm surge pressure,” Bernhard points out. “We put in a miniature version of an airport runway, which is a grid pattern with individual squares doweled together with greased rods and receivers that tie them together.”
Station 10’s second floor has four single-occupant, fully-enclosed bunk rooms, three of which are built out with a bed, storage underneath, a desk area, and three lockers, while the fourth is reserved for future use. Also on the second floor are a fitness room, report-writing room, laundry area, two unisex shower/toilet/sink rest rooms, and a commercial-grade kitchen with an open-floor plan connecting a day room and dining room, with a porch area.
John Thompson, principal at Wilder Architecture Inc., which designed and engineered Stations 2 and 5, working with Wharton-Smith Inc. as construction contractor, says the two stations are prototypes of the model that Charlotte County wants to use at other station sites. “They wanted the concept of zones, like green, yellow, and red, incorporated into their design, as well as adding decon protocols into the design, and upgrading the fit and finish to minimize maintenance,” Thompson says.
“We worked with the owner and construction manager to select finishes for durability and a more professional look, with the laminates and tiles for rest room floors and walls being a notch above that used in the past, and with as few grout joints as possible,” he points out. “With the flooring, in the past it was porcelain tiles, but in these stations we went with polished concrete floors that are much more durable in the long haul, and easier to maintain.”
Station 2 is a single-story structure with three double-deep, drive-through apparatus bays, a decon room, turnout gear storage room, EMS equipment storage room, fitness room, kitchen and dining area, day room, laundry, conference room, offices, multiple rest rooms, and 14 individual dorm rooms, including dorms for a battalion chief and a lieutenant.
Station 5 is a two-bay, drive-through, double-deep station with the same layout and rooms as Station 2, but only nine individual dorm rooms and no conference room or battalion chief’s room.
Andrew Miller, Charlotte battalion chief, says that decon space was one of the most important features of the county’s new fire stations. “To prevent the spread and exposure of contaminants, the stations have been designed into three zones — hot, warm, and cold,” Miller says. “The hot zone is the apparatus bay where we are at the greatest risk of exposure to carcinogens from vehicle exhaust, bunker gear off-gassing, and many other risks. To prevent this, we have created airlocks from the bay to the warm area, a rapid decontamination area, bunker room with humidifier and separate exhaust and HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning.”
Miller continues, “In the warm area are showers, restrooms, and a washer and dryer for items that may have been contaminated. The idea is when the personnel get back from a fire, they can immediately decontaminate, shower, and change clothes before ever entering the station. There also is an area for work boots to be decontaminated and a hand-washing station.”
Vehicle exhaust and carcinogens are problems that have been around in fire stations for years, Miller observes. “We have been taking steps to limit the exposure to exhaust fumes and other carcinogens involved in daily tasks,” he says, “but the new stations have better exhaust systems and space to keep the apparatus further from the walls, and two airtight walls with separate ventilation systems separate the apparatus bays from the living quarters.”
ALAN M. PETRILLO is a Tucson, Ariz.-based journalist, the author of three novels and five non-fiction books, and a member of the Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment editorial advisory board. He served 22 years with Verdoy (NY) Fire Department, including the position of chief.