Prefabs Used as Temporary Stations
The use of prefabricated metal buildings and mobile homes as temporary fire stations made it possible for the Montgomery, Ala., Fire Department to improve fire protection in a rapidly expanding city while three permanent stations were being built during a station relocation program.
During the early ’70s Montgomery experienced phenominal growth. The old downtown area suddenly shrunk to a small segment of the overall fire protection demand. Large industrial complexes, shopping malls and housing subdivisions began popping up around the outskirts of the city.
The mayor and City Commission faced the problem of how to improve fire protection to meet the demands of the growth. Of the many fire protection suggestions that were made by a firm of municipal consultants, the one that caused the most concern was the relocation of some fire stations. However, the city was suffering financial woes like other municipalities experiencing the effects of inflation and increasing demands for municipal services. The necessary funds for new stations simply were not available immediately. The city would need time to appropriate building funds.
Temporary station decision
At this point, fire department administrators, headed by Chief James A. Odom, began their search for ways to temporarily relocate the necessary fire stations while appropriations were being sought and matching funds from various federal agencies were being investigated.
Several alternatives were considered before mobile homes were selected for housing fire fighters and prefabricated, metal-frame, metal-clad buildings chosen for apparatus rooms. This would allow the stations to be relocated during the time funds were being appropriated and permanent stations were being built.
The shuffle of fire stations began as old No. 1, the headquarters station, near the center of the downtown area, was demolished and replaced by a parking lot. This landmark had served the city since the turn of the century.
Station 1 was moved to Station 5 in North Montgomery, near the railroad yards and the old industrial center. Station 5 was scheduled to be relocated near the new Gunter Industrial Park on the eastern perimeter of the city. Fire department administrative offices were moved to the Public Safety Building.
Agreement with college
The new Station 5 was to be built on city property, so rather than temporarily locating on this site, an agreement was made with Alabama Christian College to place the temporary station on its property. This site was near the permanent location and would leave the property open so that construction would not be hampered by having to work around the temporary setup.
The college administrators agreed to let the city use their property for three years. At the end of that time, in lieu of rent, the metal building housing the apparatus would become the property of the college, which needed a building of this type for storage.
When the permanent station was completed, the mobile home was converted to a classroom and moved to the bureau of training location. Station 8, approximately 2 miles from downtown, was to be relocated in the northeastern section of the city. The building was old but in good shape, so it was converted to a fire department supply building. The temporary location for the station was on city property approximately a quarter mile from the projected permanent site.
Second agreement made
Station 9, also near the downtown area, was scheduled to be moved to the southern perimeter of the city.
John Patterson trade school was in the vicinity of the projected site and a similar deal was made with it for use of its property (rent free for ownership of the metal building).
Of all the moves made by the department, this was the only one that gave the city problems. This was because the city was unable to secure the land needed for the permanent site and complete construction within the three years set forth in the agreement.
The land had been bought but no construction had begun when the lease with the trade school expired. This brought about forfeiture of the metal building and the need to move. Fortunately, the construction site was large enough so that temporary quarters could be placed on it without interference. However, another metal building had to be erected to house the apparatus.
New uses for buildings
After the permanent station is completed, the metal building will remain at its present location to serve as a workshop for fire prevention projects, such as the construction of displays, painting posters, making signs, etc.
The mobile home will be used as an additional classroom or, if needed, it can serve as temporary quarters in the event another station has to be relocated. The same use can be made of the mobile home at Station 8 once its permanent quarters are completed.
The metal building at Station 8 will be disassembled and stored for future use.
At the present time, a 22 1/2-acre plot has been obtained for a training facilty. Eventually, the mobile homes will be modified still further and set up at various locations on the drill ground to provide classrooms for specialized training sessions and critiques of drills.
Protection expanded
The question naturally arises as to whether temporary quarters set up in the manner described are economically feasible or wasteful in the long run. First of all, the city was able to expand fire protection to the outer limits, where most of the growth was occurring, in spite of the fact that the city was strapped for funds.
The cost breakdown for the temporary stations was as follows:
Three years of temporary housing cost approximately $25,000 for each location, but the city still has three mobile homes and two metal buildings for future use.
The three permanent stations will all be constructed exactly alike from the same blueprints at a cost of $366,950 each.
The temporary location of fire stations helped resolve the problems in Montgomery. It may be possible that such a system might work equally well in other cities.
It may even be feasible for smaller cities with volunteer or part-paid departments to consider this type of station arrangement as permanent quarters, especially where funds are not available for more elaborate facilities.
