Belmont, Arizona — The Ponderosa Fire District (PFD) recently embarked on an ambitious expansion project for its Belmont Base, demonstrating major upgrades to its facilities and services that sparked excitement. Construction is expected to begin in mid-July.
“The whole staff is really excited,” said Ponderosa Fire Chief Lee Antonides. “This is huge for our department and huge for our community as well.”
Along with the much-anticipated community room, the expansion includes an additional administration office, another equipment bay, two more firefighter dormitory rooms, updated common areas for crew members, and additional public parking. will be
“When the fire station was built, there was an agreement between the fire station, the developer at the time (Empire Homes) and Coconino County to expand the fire station to include community rooms for residents to use,” Lee said. Told.
Loven Contracting, Inc has completed the expansion work and the project is expected to take approximately 26 weeks. The contractor expects the station to be operational by the end of January 2024.
During the renovation work, management staff and duty staff may be stationed in the park. In the event of an emergency, residents are being urged to call 911 for a quick response.
In addition to expanding the Belmont station, PFD is also building a new four-car depot to replace the storage and junction boxes. The purpose of this new facility is to store small response vehicles and supplies when not in use.
vehicle upgrade
Two new command rigs will be added to Fire District vehicles in the summer of 2023. These specialized vehicles provide fire chiefs with enhanced, reliable response capabilities in emergency situations, facilitating communications and improving site safety. In particular, one of the command vehicles will serve as a means of transport for wildland medical teams, facilitating the movement of personnel, equipment and rescue UTVs both within the region and on national missions upon request.
The Fire District also announced the completion of its newly refurbished Type 1 engine. The project was carried out by Fire Trucks Unlimited of Henderson, Nevada and was completed in late April. Captain Mike Allen and Director Thomas Humphrey transported the engine to Station 82 in Belmont. May 4th Engine 82 She has been operational since May 10th and provides a vital asset to the district. Residents and anyone interested can visit the station and take a guided tour to see the engine up close.
In another vehicle upgrade, PFD acquired a new Type 3 engine from the Camp Navajo Fire Department. This addition will strengthen the district’s ability to respond to immediate and long-term missions, especially in wilderness environments. The Type 3 engine offers increased reliability and versatility, better protection for civilians, and additional income for fire districts through participation in wilderness missions.
program
PFD introduced the Wildland Medic Team program in early June, establishing new resources for responding to wildfires and all hazardous situations. This team and its equipment can be deployed both regionally and nationally, providing critical medical assistance in remote areas and rugged terrain inaccessible to conventional ambulances and firefighting equipment.
“We have put together a system and program to respond to wildfires both locally and wherever medical assistance is needed,” Lee said.
Participation in team missions also contributes to additional income for the fire district.
The PFD Explorer program is a great starting point for anyone interested in becoming a firefighter. Designed for individuals interested in public safety, this program provides an opportunity to gain experience and training while pursuing a career in the field. Candidates for the PFD Explorer Program should have certifications such as Firefighter I and II, EMT, Paramedic, Basic Wildland S-130, S-190, L-180. The program enables residents to go beyond career prospects and become actively involved in and contribute to the community.
The reserve program for the Ponderosa Fire District has been significantly enhanced. For the first time, all reservists receive hourly wages and are eligible district employees. A reserve team of well-qualified individuals provides additional personnel support, whether for large missions or to replace employees on leave.
For questions or more information regarding the expansion of the Ponderosa Fire District, please call (928) 773-8933 or email office@ponderosafire.org.
