Chief Skeels noted that the council will take a break from their special Saturday meeting for the ribbon-cutting, the “grand reopening of Station 2, or Station 82” as it is now called, as part of the county’s dispatch system.The station originally opened in early 1988, when Chief Skeels had been the newly elected leader of the all volunteer department for less than a month. Since that time the station has housed two engines kept at the ready for the then paid-call volunteer off-duty personnel to respond for full-tone calls. The large meeting room has been used for training, and for a time in the mid-1990s full-time firefighters “camped out” in the building when Station 1 (AKA Station 82) was being revamped.“With that exception it had not been a full-service station…now it is,” said Chief Skeels. “The station still needs a lot of cosmetic work to make it look nicer inside and out,” and partitions will be installed for firefighter privacy.The open house will “last as long as people want to look at the station,” Chief Skeels noted. “I’m very pleased - I can’t even tell you how pleased - knowing that we have that station open and operating around the clock; and I want to extend an invitation to everyone interested in having a little look see at the station to join us on Saturday.”
SPFD Station 2: Ribbon-cutting, open house for Saturday opening
February 23, 2005
Santa Paula News
Santa Paula Fire Department Station 2 opens officially on Saturday, many years after the city’s second station was completed and about three weeks after it welcomed a full-time staff.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesSanta Paula Fire Department Station 2 opens officially on Saturday, many years after the city’s second station was completed and about three weeks after it welcomed a full-time staff. The full-time staff of firefighters – fire Captains overseeing crews of Reserves – have been operating 24-7 since February 1, serving the residents of the city’s west side.The opening celebration – including a ribbon cutting and Open House - will be held at 11 a.m. at Fire Station 2, located on Main Street just west of the Community Center and Steckel Drive.Fire Chief Paul Skeels had pushed to open Station 2 for years and finally devised a plan – adopted by the City Council and then put on hold due to budget shortfalls – to open the station gradually.The Santa Paula Fire Department responds to calls of not only fire but also for accident, medical emergency and weather related issues, among others. The rising call volume propelled Chief Skeels to urge that the city fully staff Station 2 as soon as possible.
