Fire station nearly done in Rio Rico

A new fire station in northeast Rio Rico is expected to be completed by the end of February.

The Tubac Fire District’s Station No. 3 is at 333 Camino Josephina, 3.3 miles east of Pendleton Drive. Presently, the fire and medical responders are working out of a rented home in the area. A grand opening for the fire station will be held in early March, Tubac Fire Chief Kevin Keeley said.

The fire district governing board heard a report during the Jan. 27 meeting. Another fire station of the same size and using the same architectural design is also under construction on Ruta Camaron, about 300 yards east of Pendleton Drive and 100 yards south of the Palo Parado crossing. It will be Station No. 4 and is anticipated to open in August or September.

For the two fire stations, $6.86 million has been budgeted, with $3.7 million spent, board members were told. The funding comes from a $15 million bond election approved by voters in November 2008.

Louis Chaboya, special projects director, submitted a report that showed $20,000 in investment interest has been earned so far on the bond funds. That interest income can only be used for the new fire stations’ furnishings and equipment.

In votes by the board, the purchase of fire engine equipment, furniture and computers was approved. Chaboya said that computer networks are being set up for the fire stations. Station 3 will be networked with Station 2, which is at the West Frontage Road just south of the Peck Canyon Interstate 19 interchange. He said, “Eventually they’ll be networked with Station 4 and Station 1.”

The board also approved the purchase of communications equipment for $63,000. The money comes from a U. S. Department of Homeland Security grant and was referred to as “pass through” funds. This is to fund equipment for emergency communications if other communications equipment fails, said Mike Lindsey of the Tubac district.

He said the equipment is scheduled to be installed at the county complex emergency operations center in Nogales in a few weeks.