On Tuesday, Long Beach city officials gathered to break new ground for the upcoming Fire Station 9, as detailed in a city press release. The project kicked off with a ceremony featuring Economic Development's Real Estate Development Bureau Manager Mary Torres, Economic Development Director Bo Martinez, and Public Works Director Eric Lopez. Located at 4101 Long Beach Blvd., the new two-story state-of-the-art fire station will replace the existing one and is slated for completion towards the end of 2025.
Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson emphasized the city's dedication to public safety, stating, “The development of our new Fire Station 9 facility marks an important milestone in our ongoing commitment to enhancing public safety across our city." The new station is set to not only house a larger fleet of fire trucks but also incorporate energy-efficient features and sustainability, according to the city’s announcement. These plans include solar panels and LEED Silver Certification aims.
Among the features of the new fire station are an enhanced capacity for emergency response vehicles, from two to five fire trucks, and a layout designed to optimally reduce response times in the serviced area. The project also plans to strategically place traffic signals and move utility lines to accommodate the new infrastructure. "This new facility will enhance our ability to respond to emergencies promptly and effectively so that we can best serve our residents," Fifth District Councilwoman Megan Kerr conveyed in the press release.
The investment into the new station has been recognized as a crucial step towards improving community safety. "The redevelopment of Fire Station 9 has been a long time coming,” Eighth District Councilmember Al Austin II, whose district the new station will serve, was quoted in the announcement. Planning was executed to ensure flexibility for future response changes, which might include various apparatus bay combinations to suit evolving needs. The new facility aims to embody the City of Long Beach's pledge to safeguard residents, property, and the environment as it stands prepared for the challenges of tomorrow.
Long Beach Fire Chief Dennis Buchanan expressed the significance of the milestone, saying, “As we break ground today for new Fire Station 9, we are not only laying the foundation for a building, we’re building a stronger, safer future for Los Cerritos, Bixby Knolls, California Heights and the surrounding community." Moreover, the city is hopeful that this project reflects its commitment to improving infrastructure for the welfare of its citizens as they collectively blaze a trail toward a secure and responsive future.
