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A Closer Look: Newcastle Crumbling fire department ‘unsafe for public use’ |
Newcastle firefighters Cameron Gibson, left, and Christian Suman stand in front of the Newcastle Fire Department building at Cypress and Main Street. The building, which is in a state of disrepair (as seen at the top of this photo), is no longer suitable for use as a fire station and the community is stepping forward to find a new location to house their public safety personnel. |
For an agency tasked with maintaining public safety, the building that houses their employees is anything but safe.
While pulling their fire engine out of the Newcastle Fire Department building at Cypress and Main Street a few years ago, the overhead beam supporting the garage door ripped off the truck’s light bar – because the beam had shifted, according to Michael Leydon, former Newcastle Community Association president and current president of the Newcastle Elementary School District Board. He said the station is essentially crumbling around the firefighters.
The cost of renovating the building has been estimated to run between $850,000 and $1.2 million, he said. That’s why the elementary school board stepped forward to offer the firefighters a new home.
The school board owns property nearby on Old State Highway that also features a large warehouse. According to Leydon, the facility has already been inspected and is in good enough shape to house the firefighting equipment and engines.
The school board is working with the Newcastle Fire Department and the Placer County Office of Education to craft a memorandum of understanding regarding the use of the property, leases, improvements and the addition of a manufactured building to house the firefighters.
One issue is Pine View School located adjacent to the proposed site. According to Leydon, early plans call for a fence to be constructed between the school and the new fire station. He said moving the fire department is a priority.
“They can no longer hold their Fire
(Protection District) Board meetings (in the building) because it’s not
safe for the public to enter,” Leydon said. “The Newcastle Fire
Department is currently in a building that is falling down.”
Leydon said it’s important that Newcastle maintains a working fire department.
“It’s very important that we retain our local firefighters and response times,” he said.
Until
the agreement becomes a reality, the Newcastle Fire Department
continues to operate out of the old building, which has been patched
together with braces and a temporary support beam.
Elementary school receives ‘distinguished’ recognition Newcastle Elementary School was named a “California Distinguished School” by state Superintendent Jack O’Connell.
According
to a report written by school inspectors (known as the site validation
team), “Parents ... were joined by community members including
representatives from the fire department, sheriff’s office, Lion’s
Club and school alumni (to) express pride in their community and
school. ... They described a school that is the center of the
community, a committed and tireless leader, and a staff that is
dedicated, accessible and committed to the success of each child.”
The
school is a kindergarten through eighth grade facility and boasts a new
amphitheatre, playground and a few new portable classrooms. The
principal is Kathleen Dougherty.
Enrollment at the school has held steady despite enrollment declines in other areas such as Auburn.
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