City to host pandemic-delayed fire station ribbon cutting

The City of Madera will host a long-awaited ribbon-cutting ceremony on to officially commemorate the completion of Fire Station No. 58, the first new fire station built in Madera since 1978.

The ceremony will be held today at 5:30 p.m. at the Station 58, located on the southwest corner of Aviation Drive and Condor Avenue.

Designed with an architectural aesthetic inspired by the neighboring Madera Municipal Airport, the 9,020 square-foot state-of-the-art facility features three apparatus bays, a sleeping area for up to 10 personnel, a kitchen, a day room, an exercise facility, and a training room. Built with firefighter health and wellness in mind, the station includes safety features that reduce firefighters’ exposure to carcinogens and hazardous vehicle emissions and is also equipped with a HeartSmart fire department alerting system.

“Though we brought Station 58 online a little over a year ago, we didn’t feel like it was the right time to hold a proper community celebration marking the day,” said Councilwoman Cece Gallegos. “This is the people’s fire station. Our community is invested in ensuring that public safety continues to be a top priority. We can’t wait to celebrate this beautiful new fire station with the people who made it possible, the residents of Madera.”

Funding for construction of the station, a new Rosenbauer 102-foot aerial ladder truck, and assigned personnel comes from Measure K, a half-cent sales tax approved by voters in November 2016. Three full-time personnel, including a Fire Captain, a Fire Apparatus Engineer, and a firefighter will staff the site 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

“Our fire family couldn’t be more grateful and honored to have the opportunity to officially unveil this new station for our Madera community,” said Assistant Fire Chief Matthew Watson. “Station 58 has reduced response times and increased protection for all Madera residents, greatly improving our ability to render services to our community when they need us most.”

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be dedicated to the public and include a plaque unveiling, flag raising, and color guard presentation. Guests will also be able to take guided tours of the station and get an up-close look at the new firefighting equipment.