Vice Mayor Thelda Williams and Councilman Jim Waring today announced that temporary Fire Station 55 in North Phoenix will expand from part-time to full-time operations by May 1. The temporary station will operate every day on a 24-hour schedule.
"Ensuring public safety is always a top priority," said Vice Mayor Williams, who represents District 1 in North West Phoenix. "Councilman Waring and I have been working closely with City Manager Ed Zuercher and Fire Chief Kara Kalkbrenner to find funding to expand the temporary station's hours. Not only does this improve response times in the area, it provides our firefighters resources they need to respond to increasing demand."
"By expanding Station 55's operations to 24 hours, we are reassuring our residents their public safety is a priority," said Councilman Jim Waring who represents District 2 in North East Phoenix. "I look forward to the completion of the permanent Fire Station 55 next year and I know our residents are excited for the station's opening."
Since January, Phoenix firefighters have been working out of temporary Fire Station 55 from a Marriott Residence Inn near Happy Valley Road and 19th Avenue. Four firefighters (all EMTs) and one advanced life support engine have been based at the temporary station every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. when a majority of calls for service in the area come in.
Currently, the temporary station is being staffed using overtime. The Fire Chief has proposed that the temporary station be converted to a 24-hour operation by converting the overtime and other miscellaneous savings into 14 sworn positions.
Construction on the permanent site for Fire Station 55 at Interstate 17 and Jomax Road is scheduled to begin in the summer and is expected to be completed in late 2019. Funding to operate the permanent station full time will be requested in the 2019-20 budget.
