JWA firefighters to get $3.8-million station

Airport firefighters received a new home Wednesday when the Board of

Supervisors unanimously approved a new $3.8-million station.

The new station, to be called Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Station No.

33, will be built on airport grounds.

The board approved the environmental review on the new

14,958-square-foot station and set Feb. 27 as the date for the

solicitation of bids for a builder.

The airport plans to foot 80% of the bill on the new station with

grant money from the Federal Aviation Administration. The remaining 20%

will come from the county till.

The existing, aging station needs to be replaced after more than 20

years of use, officials have said. It doesn’t meet current seismic

standards and can’t accommodate newer equipment.