Fire Department Conducts Assessment of Response Times During Independence Bowl

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On December 26, 2011, the Shreveport Fire Department used the Independence Bowl as an opportunity to gather data they will use in the future configuration of a new Fair Ground's fire station. The proposed station concept, approved by voters in last April's bond election, combined two aging fire stations, one already located on the Fair Grounds and the other along Greenwood Road, into one Super Station.

Site plans are currently being developed in the general location on the Fair Grounds west end that will place the new station midway between the two current stations to ensure maximum response time efficiencies as well as adequate National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Property Insurance Association of Louisiana (PIAL) standards. The Fire Department will be using today's crowd and traffic at the Independence Bowl as a "Most challenging" scenario for the new station having to maneuver in and out of traffic during large scale events.

"This day and possibly four or five other dates during the 365 day calendar year, notably the State Fair and other high profile football games, affect the traffic for this area that could lead to possibly developing special contingency plans, such as those we currently use for the Mardi Gras parades, being put in place on these few occasions to ensure that emergency response vehicles from the new station maintain their high efficiency," said Fire Chief Craig Mulford.

Mulford noted that Station 8 has resided on the east end of the Fair Grounds for over five decades and has always operated from their physical address during large scale events without problems and expects the same for the new station - noting the only difference is the new station is likely to be located on the west side of the Grounds. "As part of the relocation process, when it comes to public safety we leave nothing to chance and planning is the key, thus the Fire Department will be collecting response data today that will be evaluated to ensure we maintain our high standards of emergency care at all times with the new station, even in the most challenging of circumstances," said Mayor Cedric Glover.



Author:Shreveport Fire Department Press Release