Arizona Local Receives Two Fire Station Construction Grants

October 7, 2009 – Mesa and Gilbert, Arizona, fire departments – both represented by Mesa Local 2260 – are among the 100 fire departments nationwide to receive Fire Station Construction Grants under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The IAFF wrote and lobbied for the creation of the grant.

“This is exceptional news for us, especially in Mesa where our ability to match public safety service infrastructure with community growth has been hampered in recent years,” says Local 2260 President Bryan Jeffries.

The last needs assessment study done in Mesa indicated that the City needed at least five new fire stations. In two areas of the City, response times can reach 15 minutes. “Clearly, we are currently no where close to meeting NFPA standards and that is unacceptable,” says Jeffries. The standard calls for first responding apparatus to be on the scene within four minutes.

Jeffries believes that having several projects ready-to-go was a huge plus in the grant application process. “In some areas, we already have proven the need and have the land available for a fire station,” he says.

In the November 2008 election, Local 2260 was successful in passing two bond issues to fund the building of two new fire stations. Jeffries predicts the money generated from the bonds and the grant combined should be enough for at least five fire stations.

In Gilbert, the need for a new fire facility is clear. As in Mesa, Gilbert has a shovel-ready location for a fire station. “Since Mesa shares automatic aid with Gilbert, the construction of its fire station stands to help both communities,” says Jeffries.

Specific details of the construction for each of the fire stations are still being determined.