City of Sparks secures property for new fire station

The City of Sparks recently closed escrow on a property in Pioneer Meadows Business Park to build Fire Station 6, which is a major step in the process that began back in 2018. Sparks Fire Division Chief Kevin Jakubos says that the need for a new fire station was identified five years ago when they performed a statistical analysis of the area and saw how fast the population of Sparks was growing.

“We started looking at where to put a fire station out in the void areas where we don’t have a six-minute response volume,” Jakubos says. The fire department found a 1.85-acre land parcel that could serve the Pioneer Meadows, Kiley Ranch, and Stonebrook communities, and got the ball rolling. The area has been and is currently serviced by Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue, who have been wanting to move their station farther north but wanted to wait until the Fire Station 6 was up and running.

It took a while for the city to purchase the land because the original developer they were working with sold the property. The agreement between Sparks and the new developer was grandfathered in, but it delayed the process. However, Sparks Fire has continued to move forward on the planning of the new Fire Station 6.

Since it takes at least 600 days to get a new fire engine due to supply chain issues, they’ve already ordered one ahead of the fire station to house it in. Sparks Fire personnel also attended a fire station design conference and came back with lots of ideas on how to build a fire station that is functional, safe, and created for growth. They even visited Sky Ranch Middle School after it had been functioning for a year to look at how the fit and finishes have held up. “If it has lasted for middle schoolers then I’m sure that can work for our firefighters, too,” Jakubos smiles.

Regarding some of the innovative features that the new Fire Station 6 may have, Jakubos mentions accommodations that will help firefighters keep its “shower within an hour” goal.

“Firefighters are more predisposed to catching occupational hazards’ diseases, so we like everyone to shower within an hour of getting back from a call. However, we only have three showers so there’s a wait time for firefighters to be able to do that,” Jakubos says. He explains that in most fire stations, there are shared rooms or dorms with a communal area, and the fire chief usually has a larger suite. In the design that is considered for Fire Station 6, every employee would have their own room with a locker, a bed, and a shower, regardless of rank. This also helps people who like to sleep at different temperatures be more comfortable during their downtime.

They are also looking at installing the laundry room across from the dorms, so that firefighters don’t have to walk across the entire fire station and “red zone” bay to wash their clothes. Sparks Fire is working with TSK Architects, a local Northern Nevada firm that is proficient in building firehouses.

“When we got back from the fire station design conference and shared our ideas with them, they agreed with everything. They get it,” Jakubos says. He also created a committee with other Sparks firefighters of all different ranks who’ve helped with the designs and costs.

“The guys who like to work out are taking on the gym, the person who likes to cook is taking on the kitchen,” he says.

“We ended up with a great piece of land in a great location. This was the first fire station that I’ve been a part of the planning process for, it’s a one-time-in-a-career type of project. I’m excited for this; it’s been a fun process,” Jakubos adds.

There is around $15 million in general allocation bonds that have been designated for Fire Station 6, and Jakubos hopes to open the new station in fall of 2025.

“We will put a bid document out for a contractor in early January and then it will have to go through the council and imagine it will take around 18 months to build,” Jakubos says.

“We are excited that we are one step closer to building Fire Station 6. The Spanish Springs area is seeing tremendous growth, and building our newest fire station in this area will ensure faster emergency response times for the safety of our residents,” Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson commented.