County Breaks Ground for Travilah Fire Station; New Facility Scheduled for Completion in Late 2013

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett today celebrated the groundbreaking for the new Travilah Fire Station #32, which will be located in the northwest corner of the intersection of Darnestown and Shady Grove roads, one of the fastest growing areas in the County. The building is expected to achieve a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver rating by incorporating environmentally-sensitive design elements.

“Public safety is among my highest priorities, and the new Travilah Fire and Rescue Station will strengthen critical emergency services to our residents in an area of tremendous growth, with even more anticipated in the future,” said Leggett. “Montgomery County is committed to providing a level of fire and rescue response that rivals any in this country, and to live up to that standard, we must provide the facilities and equipment that enable our emergency responders to do the job.

“That’s why the Emergency Medical Services Transport Insurance Reimbursement Act is so critical, particularly as our County’s population continues to grow. The program will generate $18 million a year specifically earmarked for Fire & Rescue Services -- over and above Fire & Rescue’s current budget. In the first year, the additional funding will purchase two engines, a rescue unit, five ambulances and equipment for these vehicles; allow four-person staffing for eight engine companies, 13 ladder companies and four rescue squads; provide funding for facility maintenance and repair for every County-owned and volunteer fire station; provide personal protective equipment for career and volunteer firefighters; replace apparatus, such as engines, ladders, rescue and EMS units; provide maintenance, utilities and personnel for the new Travilah Fire Station; train and pay salaries for staff and new recruits; restore service reductions; and provide other essential resources.

“We need this money to ensure that our Fire and Rescue Service has the personnel and equipment to keep us safe as our needs grow. And the win-win for the County’s taxpayers is that the money will come from insurers – no County resident will ever get a bill and no County resident will ever pay a dime when they call for an ambulance.”

The new, state-of-the-art, one-story, 26,550-square-foot Travilah Fire Station will serve about 40,000 people within a 13-square-mile area that includes Traville, Fallsgrove, western Rockville, Travilah and North Potomac. The area’s population is expected to increase significantly with the planned development of the Johns Hopkins University Belward Campus, Life Sciences Center expansion, Crown Village community, Bright View Assisted Living Facility and mixed use development on the Public Safety Training Academy property.

The station will have four, 20- by 80-foot drive-through apparatus bays; living areas, including dormitory and bunk rooms, kitchen, dining, lounge and exercise rooms; a training room; administrative, battalion and storage spaces; a law enforcement office and a lobby area.

“Delivering outstanding fire and rescue service has long been one of the County’s highest priorities,” said Councilmember Phil Andrews, chair of the County Council’s Public Safety Committee. “The ideally located Travilah Fire Station, sited at two major roads in the center of a high call volume service area, will enable the County to meet the growing needs of the West Rockville, Travilah and North Potomac communities.”

“Today’s groundbreaking represents an important milestone,” said Montgomery County Fire Chief Richard Bowers. “Travilah Fire Station #32 will reduce critical response time while improving safety to the residents and businesses in this area of Montgomery County. The station is being built with the future in mind and will serve a vital role in the community for generations to come.”

To achieve the LEED rating, the building will incorporate sustainable design elements, including:

• Clerestory windows that reduce lighting needs by allowing daylight into most of the occupied spaces, as well as views to the exterior;
• Water-efficient plumbing fixtures;

• An energy-efficient building envelope and heating, ventilation and air conditioning design;

• Use of recycled and locally manufactured materials; and

• Environmentally sensitive design to reduce storm water runoff quantity and quality from the site.

The station will include a public parking lot on the south side, and a staff parking lot on the west. A 1.65 acre forest conservation easement will be preserved on the west side of the facility.

The architect for the renovation is PSA-Dewberry, Inc. The construction contractor is Dustin Construction, Inc. of Gaithersburg. The project should be completed late in 2013.

For more information about the Travilah Fire Station, go to the County’s website. 

Video streaming by Ustream ** From County Press Release ID: 12-226