Menlo Park Fire Schools Community In How To Rebuild Station

MENLO PARK, CA — The past and the future presented itself in a dramatic, nostalgic way Saturday when the Menlo Park Fire Protection District's 11-year evolution culminated in the ribbon cutting for station 6, bringing out hundreds of people for its open house.

District board members of many years, elected officials, staffers and builders joined active and retired Menlo Park Firefighters for a small ceremony characterized as "humorous, emotional and uplifting."

The new two story, drive-through 8,335 square foot building can accommodate up eight firefighters and two emergency vehicles. The station has an emergency generator and uses smart station technology that allows it to interface with the U.S. Geological Survey Shake Alert's early warning notification system to let firefighters know that an earthquake is coming.

Fire Station 6 located at 700 Oak Grove Ave. is also now the official home for the fire district's 1899 Carriage House and Hose Wagon, 1930 Ahrens Fox Fire Engine and 1956 Seagraves Fire Engine.

"We have over a 120 years of history protecting and serving the town of Atherton, cities of East Palo Alto and Menlo Park and unincorporated county areas. Many of our retired firefighters donated to our collection of historical artifacts, and it was important to us to get it right for both them and the community," Fire Chief Harold Schapelhouman said. "Judging by all the positive comments and feedback we received today, the neighbors and community love the new facility and also how we preserved our past, which was extremely important to me.”

When the fire district decided to rebuild its downtown Menlo Park Fire Station in 2007, it had determined to keep it in the same location with a purchase of a residential property directly behind the station for offices that would help with the expansion.

The 2009 recession stalled the project, followed by complications associated with the city's downtown plan and Schapelhouman breaking his neck in 2013. But in true firefighter tenacious fashion, the project gained steam again when the chief returned in 2014. The funding was dedicated and the construction gurus were hired.

The shiny new fire station serves as "a unique environment for adults and children to learn about the history of our organization, the fire service and Menlo Park" Schapelhouman summed up the momentous occasion. "We’ve preserved over 100 years of local history in an accessible central location for generations of visitors who can come here to enjoy.”

Fire Station 6 was the district’s third busiest last year with 1,242 emergencies — with 28 percent of station 6’s response area in Atherton, while 71 percent remains in Menlo Park. That includes the Downtown Menlo Park Business District, El Camino Real to the Palo Alto border and most of the new building development on the west side of the railroad tracks.

In 1948, then Fire Chief Tom reflected on its purpose.

“The fire district was established for the welfare and safety of the entire community, which it serves. The proposed location of station 6 appears to be the most adaptable and practical of all properties,” Cuff said at the time.