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New county fire legislation is passed and
Silver Spring gets a new fire station
Facility to house new police substation,
Urban District offices, and interactive educational center
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Photos: Miguel Gallegos
Doug Duncan joined fire and rescue
officials and other dignitaries to break ground for
the new four-story Silver Spring Fire Station.
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On May 12, Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan signed
into law a major change to the County’s Fire and Rescue
system that will clarify the command and control structure
and streamline operations to better serve the community.
Duncan also joined fire and rescue officials and other dignitaries
to break ground for the new four-story Silver Spring Fire
Station, which will house a Silver Spring Police Substation
on the second floor, offices for the Silver Spring Urban District
Crew on the third floor, and an interactive, educational "Fire
Safety Zone" on the fourth floor.
The new law will take effect on January 1, 2005, and the
fire facility is scheduled to be completed in the summer of
2005.
"This is an historic day for us," said Duncan.
"The legislation creates a simpler, more unified fire
and rescue system, and the new facility integrates the public
safety programs that are so critical to the success of Silver
Spring’s rebirth."
The new law calls for several restructuring changes, starting
with the establishment of a uniformed County Fire Chief as
the authority to administer, direct, and originate Fire and
Rescue operations. This restructuring will eliminate the current
position of Fire Administrator, and enlist the seven-member
Fire and Rescue Commission as a review board to assist the
new chief. The Chief of the Division of Volunteer Services
position will be enhanced with a clear role in the administration,
recruitment, retention, and promotion of volunteer personnel
and facilities. A representative body of local fire and rescue
departments will be established to solidify the volunteer
role in decision making, and to facilitate direct negotiations
between local departments and the new Fire Chief on volunteer
issues.
Additional incentives for volunteers, including an improved
"length of service awards program," an increased
death benefit, use of county recreational facilities at reduced
cost, and greater flexibility of tuition assistance programs
are also included under the new law.
"Starting today, we build on the incredible dedication
of all our Fire and Rescue personnel, while providing clear
lines of authority and accountability in serving our residents’
public safety needs in an ever changing and challenging environment,"
said Knapp.
The new fire station is planned as a $6.7 million, 35,000-square-foot
facility to be built in downtown Silver Spring, next to the
old B&O Train Station at Georgia Avenue and Sligo Avenue.
"We’re excited at the prospect of building a working
fire station that also incorporates other community services
that will benefit downtown Silver Spring," said Gordon
A. Aoyagi, Fire Administrator for Montgomery County. "By
including an educational component, we hope to make great
strides in fire prevention and other life safety issues, and
it will enable us to reach out to our most vulnerable residents—the
very young and the elderly."
 The
components of the new facility include:
1. Fire Station #1. This new station replaces a 100-year-old
building at 8131 Georgia Avenue that has been the home of
Fire Station #1 since 1919 and was last renovated in 1983.
The new station will include apparatus bays, dorm and support
space, personnel living quarters, administrative offices,
and a training/meeting area. On-site parking will also be
provided.
2. Police Substation. A 6,000-square-foot-area on the second
floor will house a police substation that will supplement
the Sligo Avenue station until a new site for the 3rd District
Station is selected. The substation will be staffed by a Lieutenant,
42 police officers, and eight traffic officers. The space
will include offices, report-writing areas, an interview room,
and locker facilities. A gym will be shared by the police
officers and fire and rescue staff.
3. Silver Spring Urban District. The third floor of the facility
will include office space for the Urban District staff, lockers
for the "red shirts" crew, showers, a training room,
equipment room, and conference room.
4. Fire Safety Zone. This will be a 6,000-square-foot space
on the fourth floor that will house real-life displays, interactive
technologies, and educational information for children and
adults on the power of fire, fire prevention, and other issues
such as accident prevention; pedestrian, gun, and water safety;
and accident prevention. The Fire Safety Zone is modeled after
a successful program at Rockefeller Center in New York City.
The signed legislation was proposed by Councilmember Michael
Knapp and co-sponsored by Councilmembers George Leventhal
and Michael Subin.
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