PRESS RELEASE

City of Porterville                                                                                         
291 N. Main Street
Porterville, CA 93257
www.ci.porterville.ca.us/newslist.php

For more information contact:
Yuriko Velarde, Administrative Analyst
yvelarde@ci.porterville.ca.us

April 26, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FIRE STATION 72 CLASSROOM REMODEL PROJECT COMPLETE

The classroom remodel project at Fire Station 72, located at 500 N. Newcomb Street, is complete. The project had been approved by the Porterville City Council as an integral step to accommodate fire personnel during the future remodels of all three (3) existing fire stations, as well as to provide an opportunity for housing and services during emergencies and training. Porterville Fire Department Personnel and City staff celebrated the completion of the remodel and were able to tour the upgraded facilities which included the remodeling of the existing restrooms for accessibility, the construction of independent shower stalls, and the creation of a breakroom/kitchen. These upgrades also included the relocation of the existing data and network cabling and rack as well as the existing fire alarm.

As part of the remodel, the radio, the alert notification system, and audio-visual systems were also upgraded in the classrooms. The classroom improvements will help to better facilitate the numerous trainings the Fire Department hosts including, trainings for all City departments, as well as outside agencies, such as, Porterville College Fire Academy. In the past, the classrooms have also been used as temporary basecamps for strike teams reporting to large incidents in the area and the upgrades will help provide an opportunity for future housing and other services during emergencies and training beyond just the initial response period.

The facility will also serve as a temporary fire station for when crews are displaced in the coming year as Fire Station 72 also gets a much-needed update and expansion.