By Kathy Chouteau
Pinole residents can celebrate the reopening of Pinole Fire Station 74, which had been closed since 2011 due to budget cuts, according to the City of Pinole. A Grand Opening ceremony is set for Sat., March 4 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the station, as the Standard previously reported.
As of March 1, Con Fire took over firefighting staff, support staff, facilities and equipment duties previously associated with the former City of Pinole Fire Department, per the City. “The new dynamic is a major step toward improving fire and emergency medical services delivery in Pinole and across West County,” the City stated on Facebook. The station reopening has occurred as the City’s service area, people, apparatus and other resources have been consolidated from the former Pinole Fire into Con Fire, it added.
The merger is expected to improve fire and emergency services to Pinole’s 19,000 residents, per fire officials, with Measure X funds contributing $2 million to the fire station’s reopening and ongoing staffing.
The Pinole City Council, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors acting as the Con Fire board, and the Contra Costa Local Agency Formation Commission approved the contract arrangement, per the city. As part of the contract, Fire Station 74 and other fire stations will retain city ownership and be leased by Con Fire.
“Among many improvements to fire, emergency medical services, and community risk reduction, are shortened response times, enhanced lifesaving capabilities, and the newly reopened Fire Station 74,” said the City.
The City expressed its appreciation to the leadership team from the fire agencies and also to the elected officials for their “hard work and dedication to keeping our communities safe.”
Pinole Fire Station 74 is located at 3700 Pinole Valley Rd. in Pinole. For more info, click here.
