SAN ANTONIO – New and improved. That is what the newest fire station in San Antonio is promising to East Side residents.
Fire Station 18 located at 1410 S. W.W. White Road is able to hold more fire trucks, more firefighters and provide more coverage than the old building. It's almost five-times the size as the previous station, which means more opportunities than ever before.
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"Specifically for the East Side, that has been underserved for years, so by adding this project it's going to help us," said Fire Chief Charles Hood.
Hood called the area underserved not because of the number of fire stations, but the limited number of firefighters working in those facilities.
The new station has the capacity for three fire trucks and 14 firefighters. The old one could only house one fire truck and the space inside only allowed six firefighters.
"I think it will be good. Our community is starting to grow, we have more people coming in. I can't criticize them for doing that because the need has been here," Dan Martinez said.
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Martinez lives around the corner and thinks the $8 million project from the 2012 bond was worth it.
"Any time we add a station in this city it's going to help the response time throughout the city. We're adding a new ladder truck (to Station 18) in 2018 so that means another ladder company from either downtown or the Northeast side is not going to have to come down here," Hood said.
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Inside the building firefighters showed off the better sleeping quarters far away from the loud trucks. That was designed to cut down on the sleep deprivation which is so common among firefighters.
Plus the perks of new comfortable spaces and a gym are readying the firefighters for the next 911 call.
Something that makes Station 18 different than an other in town is the glass display at the front of the station, holding an antique fire truck and a public art installation.