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"If you want to break a drought, build a fire station," Fire Chief Jeff Carman told his Contra Costa County Fire Protection District board of directors Feb. 12. The roof has been placed on the building and the framing is complete, and though mud up to three feet high sloshed around parts of the building site during the heavy rains of January and February, ConFire Assistant Chief Aaron McAlister assured residents and future occupants that the building is water-tight.
The HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems have been roughed in, but Carman said it's been a bit slow securing utility services. Next up is the finishing of the windows and exterior surfaces. Sheetrock is expected to arrive late in February, and McAlister said that the stucco work will begin shortly afterward.
Work on the interior finish will follow, and the last items on the checklist include paving and landscaping. "The building should be substantially complete by late March and potentially occupied in April," Carman said. McAlister confirmed that the heritage oak tree in front of the station has not caused any problems, and it appears that the building and tree will coexist peaceably.
Twenty-four recruits graduated from the district's Academy 52 on Feb. 14, and these new firefighters will allow ConFire to place Engine 16 into service and fully staff Fire Station 16.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA