Today is move-in day at TVF&R’s Progress Station 53. Firefighters from Engine 53 are responding to emergencies from the new building today and will spend their first night there tonight. During the past week, crews have been packing up equipment and belongings at the temporary fire station, located just down the street at Whitford Middle School. A moving company is helping to make the move happen.
Station 53 is located in the Progress area near the Washington Square Mall. In addition to responding to the District’s largest commercial development, this station serves well-established neighborhoods in eastern Washington County, is “first-in” on a significant volume of motor vehicle accidents on Highway 217 and is home to one half of TVF&R’s Hazardous Materials Team. The District made the decision to replace the old station because it was too small for modern day fire apparatus and did not meet current seismic standards for fire stations.
The project is one of several funded by a $77 million general obligation bond for capital improvements approved by voters in November of 2006. To learn more about all of our projects, click here.
While their new station was under construction, Station 53’s firefighters and paramedics worked out of temporary quarters at Whitford Middle School. This nearby location meant the community saw no change in response times.
In the next few months, Station 53 will be home to a 4 person fire engine company, a two person medic unit and a battalion chief.
Once everyone is moved in and the dust settles, TVF&R will host an open house at the station so the community can tour the building and meet the firefighters who call the Progress Station home.
