San Bernardino Firefighters Save City Money By Completing Construction On Their Own Station

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Despite a national economic downturn that is affecting the fire service, the San Bernardino City Fire Department has been able to renovate one of its fire stations because of a cost-saving agreement between the city and its firefighters. Career firefighters with the San Bernardino City Fire Department have contracted with the city to use their construction skills to expand Station 4 on North E. Street in San Bernardino, California, adding a second story to the existing structure. Working 8-hour overtime construction shifts on their off-duty time, the firefighters are being paid by the city to complete this expansion and renovation.

The situation is a winning one for all parties involved. The firefighters are being paid to complete the construction work, and will be getting much needed space in their station. They are also covered by the city's insurance during their construction shifts, eliminating any liability issues for them. The city in turn is saving between $300,000 and $400,000 in construction costs by hiring the firefighters to complete the job instead of subcontracting it to an outside firm.

Built in 1964, Station 4 was designed to house 3 firefighters, and according to Jim Davis, the San Bernardino City Fire Department Engineer who spearheaded the current construction project, "Now it houses 8 along with four pieces of apparatus, and there is just frankly not enough room for everybody to be comfortable." In its original configuration the two captains of the engine companies at Station 4 each had their own offices; however, they also doubled as bedrooms. All of the weight equipment and exercise machines were placed in the apparatus bays, making for uncomfortable work-out conditions when diesel fumes were present.

This unique partnership between the City of San Bernardino and its firefighters was the brainchild of Engineer Jim Davis, who came up with the idea when the San Bernardino City Firefighters assisted with a Habitat for Humanity project in October of 2007. For decades firefighters had complained about the cramped living quarters at Station 4, and while working with his fellow firefighters on the Habitat for Humanity construction project, Davis realized that they could use their skills to expand their own station. He went to work on getting approval from Fire Chief Mike Conrad and the city to implement his plan. Davis says, "I came up with a conceptual drawing. We met with the city folks. They asked for few changes. We hired an architect, and about a year later we were able to get started on this project."

Davis found his brothers from the fire department to be more than willing to lend their talents to the project. Captain Tom Hannemann recalls, "I was approached by Jim because of my roofing capabilities, my roofing skills, and asked me if I'd be interested in putting the roof on the structure. I said, 'Yeah, no problem. Let me know whatever you need.'"

When the construction is complete, the renovated station will have a second story, which will be the new living quarters for the firefighters. Jim Davis says that many of the firefighters would like to have a traditional fire pole in the station to connect the floors, and although it is currently in the plans, final approval for it has not been issued. Because of recent inclement weather, the progress on the construction was temporarily slowed; however, officials project that it will be completed and dedicated by the Spring of 2009.