Rancho Bernardo fire station to host open house Saturday

By: ANDREA MOSS - Staff Writer | Tuesday, March 20, 2007 10:40 PM PDT ∞

RANCHO BERNARDO -- Community members interested in getting a behind-the-scenes look at their local fire station will have a chance to do so Saturday afternoon, when the facility hosts an open house.

Firefighters assigned to the station, at 16966 Bernardo Center Drive, will be on hand to meet visitors and give tours of the facility during the event, from 1 to 4 p.m. Live music, an art exhibit, safety demonstrations and a coloring contest for children are also planned.

Leaders of a community campaign to raise money for repairs at the station organized the open house to increase public awareness of the 38-year-old building's condition.

Rancho Bernardo resident Robin Kaufman, who is helping with the fundraising effort, said Tuesday that the group hopes to see lots of people at Saturday's event.

"Our main goal is giving the community an opportunity to see firsthand what the fire station looks like and why we feel it's so important to have this project go forth in the community," she said about the fundraising effort.

One of 46 fire stations owned and operated by San Diego Fire and Life Safety Services, the Rancho Bernardo facility was built in 1969 to house one fire engine and a three-man crew. A second engine and a paramedic unit eventually were added to the station, and it now houses six firefighters and paramedics of both sexes at any given time.

The increases mean space is tight and privacy is minimal at the station. Maintenance cutbacks by the city, whose financial distress is well-known, have also created problems at the Rancho Bernardo station.

For example, efforts to fix flooding and mold problems caused by a leaky roof several years left the building's walls covered with holes and roughly patched areas. A kitchen that is small and outdated and a short driveway that requires firefighters to stop traffic on Bernardo Center Drive whenever they need to back their vehicles into the station's service bays are some of the other problems that have been cited.

The Rancho Bernardo Community Council formed an ad hoc committee last year to raise $1 million for repairs and upgrades at the station. The effort, known as RB Fire Station 33 Renovation Project, petered out in late 2006, but was rejuvenated earlier this year.

Students in Rancho Bernardo High School art teacher Gary Snidecor's classes recently created a giant thermometer that will be used to track the campaign's progress. Kaufman said in-kind services and goods, including local architects' donation of the time they spent on designs for the renovations, will be counted toward the $1 million goal.

Maria Keith, who is also involved in the project, urged Rancho Bernardo residents to enjoy the free fun available at the event.

"This is a great opportunity for the community to come out and meet our local firefighters and show their support for the men and women who put their lives on the line for us each and every day," she said.

-- Contact staff writer Andrea Moss at (760) 739-6654 or amoss@nctimes.com.

Rancho Bernardo fire station open house

When: 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday

Where: 16966 Bernardo Center Drive, Rancho Bernardo

Information: www.RBCommunityCouncil.com

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