New Fire Station 1 Opens to Serve Santa Monica
July 14, 2020 2:19 PM
SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Beginning this week, the Santa Monica Fire Department will operate out of their new Fire Station 1 at 1337 7th Street serving the Downtown community. The new essential services facility has been under construction since June 2018 and replaces SMFD’s first and oldest station.
Santa Monica youth are invited to welcome the new station by drawing a welcome picture for temporary display in the front windows of Fire Station 1. Families can drive up to the 7th Street location to drop off the artwork and youth will receive a giveaway bag and commemorative fire hat. All SMFD staff will follow COVID-19 protective standards. The drive-by art showcase will be held:
Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
“While an official community celebration for the opening of Santa Monica’s newest fire station will have to come at a later date, we look forward to inviting youth to help us celebrate the station with the drive by art event,” said Fire Chief Bill Walker. “The art will welcome fire fighters serving Santa Monica in this critical moment for community health.”
Fire Station 1 serves the downtown core and is Santa Monica’s most active station with 8,948 calls for service a year. The station houses SMFD’s largest equipment, including its ladder truck. A total of 15 firefighters will be assigned to the station. Here are other essential features of the new station:
- Two-story facility that spans over 28,000 square feet
- Able to remain operational after a major disaster, allowing fire personnel to continue providing vital services to the public
- Bathrooms and 20 dormitories to accommodate both male and female firefighters
- Community room available to the public to reserve for use
- A public artwork called Back Story, by Deborah Aschheim, consisting of panes of painted and fired art glass “watercolors” featuring historic and contemporary images of Santa Monica firefighting life. This artwork was produced as part of Santa Monica’s Percent for Art program.
- Secured underground parking for fire personnel and smaller equipment
- State of the art infrastructure that supports fire department equipment storage, maintenance and repair
- Rooftop solar panels that convert sunlight into electricity, which will cut down on energy costs
- The building will achieve LEED V4 certification to ensure the project is designed and constructed to the highest level of sustainability
For questions about the drive up event can be directed to email Fire@SMGOV.NET.
Media Contact
Constance Farrell
Communications & Public Information Manager
Constance.Farrell@santamonica.gov