Station 51

             After nearly four-and-a-half years in the making, Station 51 at 3016 W. Olive Branch Road officially opened on November 19, 2007 following seventeen months of on-site construction.  The actual planning process for the new facility began in early 2003 when the need to not only realign current and future stations was sited, but the eventual replacement of the aging Runyon Road station was also realized.  The combination of the two driving forces led to the Olive Branch Road site selection and the subsequent construction of the fire station.  The station is 15,500 square feet under roof with 4,100 of that being the apparatus bay area.  The facility was based on a maximum staffing of twelve firefighters on-duty at any one time, leaving room for future growth.  A news story about opening day and the construction leading up to it can be found by clicking HERE.

           The station is actually the third building to share the title of "Station 51".  The first station to hold this distinction was the department's very first fire station in 1952 and was located at 5157 West Old Smith Valley Road in the heart of the Smith Valley community (see an associated news story HERE).  The second "Station 51" was later built on donated property at 1086 South Runyon Road in 1956.  The building was built completely by volunteers in the evenings after they were off work.  The building was later added on to in 1972 by the addition of a double bay and second floor which housed a meeting room and restrooms.  As the department and the community grew, a second major renovation and addition was completed in 1996 adding much needed office space and bunk facilities.  More information on this former station can be found HERE.
 

PHOTOS OF STATION 51
(Click on a thumbnail to view photo)

Front View	Front View	Front View	Rear View	Bay View
Crew Room	Kitchen	Bunk Rooms	Watch Room	Dining Room