Station Response Statistics

August: 124
Fiscal Year-to-Date: 255

As the city has grown over the past ten years, both in population and in physical size, the majority of new homes have been built in the northwestern area. During that period, the Fire Department did not add personnel or stations. Thus, as the demand for services increased, the response times also increased from the national standard of arrival within 4 minutes 90 percent of the time in 1992 to 5.75 minutes in 2003.

In proactively planning to better serve the community, and to bring the response times more in line with the industry standard, the Fire Department saved money to be used for the construction of Station 5. After 2001, the rate of inflation grew more rapidly than interest accrued on the saved money, eroding its value. The City Council voted to move ahead with the construction of the station to take advantage of the economic climate.

Construction began in August 2003 and was completed in September 2004. The building (located at 4950 NW Fair Oaks Drive), which includes a community meeting room and a community policing office, was designed to blend into a residential setting and to comply with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver rating standards.

Landscaped area was kept to a minimum to preserve the natural features of the site, and lighting was shielded to prevent upward glare. Storm water detention ponds capable of handling a 25-year storm were installed to detain and control storm/surface water release.