What does the future hold for South Shore Fire Station #212? Jan 5, 2025 – Update #3
Submitted by Chris Durkee, Task Force Chair – The South Shore Fire Station Task Force (SSFSTF) is continuing to make progress in evaluating the future of Station #212 on South Shore Blvd. Having already reviewed the existing deficiencies of the current station and confirmed the need for a fire station in the south/east quadrant of Lake Oswego, our group set out to determine if the current site of Station #212 is optimum.
Here is a summary of what we’ve accomplished so far:
Reviewed deficiencies of current station 212, which include:
Living quarters not built to current “essential facility” seismic standards
Apparatus bay too small for current and future equipment
Electrical system and emergency power system in poor condition
Inadequate separation between living, office, training and workout spaces
Bathrooms lack privacy and equitable accommodations
Confirmed need for a fire station in the south/east quadrant of Lake Oswego. Rationale
includes:
Without a 4th fire station, response times don’t comply with county standards and significantly reduce chances for positive outcomes on medical and fire calls.
South/east quadrant of city could be cut off from the other 3 stations in event of a natural disaster such as flood or earthquake
Maintaining 4 stations provides for growth in housing and senior facilities in this portion of town.
Minimal savings if station 212 was to be decommissioned – staff would likely be relocated to other stations while phasing out positions through retirement.
Members of the Task Force confer with Lake Oswego firefighter/paramedics stationed at South Shore Station #212.
Established that the current location for Station 212 is optimum, because:
Alternative sites along Stafford Rd were studied and shown to result in longer response times for much of 212’s service area.
No developable City-owned property in s/e quadrant would yield better response times.
To build on an alternate site, the City would have to purchase multiple homes at considerable expense.
Acquisition through eminent domain was determined to be highly undesirable.
An alternative site (not city-owned) on McVey Ave was evaluated but did not show sufficient improvement in response times to warrant the cost, time, and trust impact of pursuing acquisition.
Meeting #4 of the SSFSTF will be on January 9th , agenda includes:
Review of preliminary spatial program prepared by Fire Department staff based on analysis of current and future needs, and information gleaned from touring other facilities
Review of preliminary project costs prepared by City staff based on recently constructed fire stations in our area
Discuss feasibility of renovation rather than new construction
Initial discussion of funding options