THE FUTURE STATION ONE

Part Four – A New Location for Station 1
The EFPD Master Plan published in 2001 identified many problems with the current Station 1. The station was constructed in 1965 with 7,780 square feet on 0.8 acres. The Master Plan noted that traffic on Highway 73 had increased from 6,500 vehicle trips per day in 1972 to 22,500 trips by 1997. With the doubling of the Evergreen population since 1980, vehicle trips have increased. Congested traffic makes getting in and out of the current station precarious for first responders—from trying to cross the highway on foot from the parking area on the opposite side of the street to the difficulties of having adequate warning to stop for the fire trucks or firefighters exiting the station.

Following voter approval of a mill levy increase in 2016, EFR conducted an intensive evaluation to determine the best method for replacing the current Station 1. The driving criteria were largely about space. What option would provide the best ability to support personnel and store, maintain, and rapidly deploy seven fire apparatus?

The first option was keeping the station on the existing site. Creating the necessary space at the current location would require extensive site work as the station would need to be built deeper into the hillside. While possible, two factors made this option untenable:

• Even with substantial site work, there would be no ability to expand the station further if doing so became necessary in the future.
• The planned widening of Highway 73 in front of the current station would further constrain the total space available.

The second option was expanding Station 4 to house both its current Emergency Medical Services (EMS) staff and vehicles, and the fire apparatus from the current Station 1. Space once again became a factor. The Station 4 property was not large enough to accommodate all of the Station 1 apparatus.

EFR began looking at properties between the current Stations 1 and 4 that could provide enough room to accommodate current facility needs, as well as those that may arise in the future. The property formerly known
as Anderson Market, or Mountain Market, became available along with two other properties. Located roughly
halfway between the current Stations 1 and 4, the location also can be accessed from both Buffalo Park Road and Highway 73.

Given the amount of available space and relative distance between Stations 1 and 4, EFR purchased the properties using funds from its Station One Reserve Fund, completing the purchase of the entire site in 2020. This acquisition now provides EFR with excellent opportunities detailed in the next installment of The Future of Station One.