Solar Heat for New L. A. City Station
A unique arrangement in which a Los Angeles City engine company is using an abandoned Los Angeles County fire station during construction of a larger facility has been worked out in the East Los Angeles area.
City Fire Station 25 in Hollenbeck Heights was built in 1911 and horses pulled the first rigs in the house. Because the old structure did not meet earthquake safety standards, plans were made for a facility costing nearly a million dollars.
New Station 25 will be a two-story brick structure of 8,200 square feet and will use solar heating panels—the first City fire station to be so equipped.
The roof of the $919,227, two-story station will have heating panels containing water and designed for their sensitivity to the rays of the sun even on cloudy days. The Bureau of Public Buildings estimates that the solar energy hot water system will reduce the station’s natural gas consumption by 60 percent. This solar heating project will test the feasibility of the system for other buildings and is part of the city’s overall energy conservation program.
In November 1977, Station 25 was closed and the engine company moved into Station 17, several miles distant in the industrial district.
On November 9, 1977, County Fire Station 2, 949 Eastman ave., was closed when two stations were consolidated into one new facility.
In the agreement worked out between city and county officials, City Engine 25 moved into County Station 2 on April 27. The city paid one dollar for use of the station and also agreed to provide first-in service to about one square mile of county territory adjacent to the station.
City Engine 25 carries radios for both city and county frequencies and has the county designation of “L.A. 25.”
The arrangement puts Engine 25 much closer to its first response district than when it was in Station 17 and the arrangement will last for approximately one year until the new station is completed.
—L. A. City photos
