The Tubbs Fire that swept through Santa Rosa in 2017 took a heavy toll on the city, claiming nine lives and destroying 3,000 homes. Among the structures burnt to the ground was Fire Station Five. On Friday, city and state leaders, along with the fire department, came together at the site where the new station will be erected.
“The Tubbs Fire destroyed the original Station Five in Santa Rosa six years ago, but today the city broke ground on where the new Station Five will be,” said Captain Stavros Kalogirou.
The Tubbs Fire wreaked havoc across thousands of acres in Napa and Sonoma Counties, but some of the greatest losses were felt in Santa Rosa. Kalogirou recalled the moment he heard over his radio that the fire was approaching Fire Station 5 and the subsequent news of the station’s destruction.
Many firefighters lost not only their place of work but also their homes in the fire. Among them was Fire Chief Scott Westrope, a 23-year veteran of the department. “We were able to rebuild and plant our roots back down in our neighborhood, so it worked out fine but yeah it was overwhelming for a lot of people and we’re still feeling the effects of that,” Westrope said.
With the groundbreaking of the new Station Five, there is cause for celebration. The new station will be built on a larger parcel, allowing for more defensible space and the ability to accommodate more personnel. Funded entirely by state grant money, the $18.5 million facility is a symbol of hope and resilience for the firefighters and the community.
The new Station Five is expected to be completed by the summer of 2025, giving the firefighters who have already experienced extreme loss a new place to call their own.