The background
Originally built in 1987 as the New Braunfels Fire Department’s administration building, Fire Station No. 5, located at 1250 W. County Line Road, requires updates to meet modern safety requirements, according to a Sept. 30 press release from the city.
The safety requirements include National Fire Protection Agency 1500 standards, said David Ferguson, communications manager for the city of New Braunfels.
The new upgrades include:
- Relocating firefighter gear storage from the apparatus bay to a dedicated room, preventing contamination from diesel exhaust.
- Installing a separate cleaning room for gear, ensuring contaminated equipment stays away from living quarters.
- Adding a natural gas generator to provide power during outages and upgrading the station’s electrical service to current building codes.
- Removing personal protective equipment and workout equipment from the bay, allowing vehicles to pull in from the rear, reducing safety risks on County Line Road.
Next steps
During construction, Fire Station No. 5 personnel, along with a fire engine and ambulance, will be temporarily housed at Fire Station No. 2, located at 159 S. Waterway Lane, as per the release.
The New Braunfels 911 Dispatch Center will use an automated vehicle locator system to ensure the closest available unit responds to emergencies, minimizing the impact on response times, Ferguson said.
More details
The renovation is funded through a $10 million public safety tax note approved by New Braunfels City Council in August 2022, Ferguson said.
This also covers the purchase of a fire department ladder truck, a New Braunfels Police Department command vehicle and other public safety improvements, Ferguson said.
The renovation is expected to last about six months, with completion anticipated in mid 2025.
