Santa Clara County Fire Department Hosts Grand Opening at New Redwood Fire Station

CAMPBELL, CA – Today, Santa Clara County Fire Chief Suwanna Kerdkaew, Santa Clara County Supervisor Otto Lee, Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, and nearly two hundred guests gathered for a ribbon cutting ceremony at the new fire station.

While many firefighting traditions remain, the fire service has evolved a great deal in the last four decades, particularly in the areas of firehouse construction to account for the long-term health of firefighters and buildings that meet the needs of a diverse workforce.

“The Redwood fire station has been designed and equipped with the latest safety features, modern firefighting tools, and modern technology, aligning with industry best practices,” said Fire Chief Suwanna Kerdkaew. “This new facility demonstrates the agency’s strong enduring commitment to prioritizing a healthy, prepared and resilient public safety agency, emphasizing firefighter health, training and operational readiness.”

This state-of-the-art facility replaces the previous fire station, which consisted of a 2,020 sq ft prefabricated modular building as living quarters and a separate, stand-alone 1,580 sq ft apparatus bay constructed in 1979. By contrast, the footprint of the new Redwood Fire Station is 8,200 sq ft and brings living quarters, meeting space, fitness facilities, and apparatus bay under one roof.

Whereas the previous building housed crew members in one room dormitory-style, as was customary when built, the new firehouse includes four separate dormitories as well as all-gender restrooms with showers. Fitness facilities have been relocated from the apparatus bay into a dedicated workout room, free from contaminants of which long- term exposure can be detrimental to firefighters' health.

“Fitness is an important component of the physically demanding work of the firefighters, and we are pleased to deliver a modern fitness room that allows for fresh air with a patio available,” explained Support Services Director Dave Snow. “Areas are intentionally designed to limit the exposure of firefighters to toxins. The “hot zone” allows for decontamination of the individual, and turnouts and PPE can be cleaned and maintained within that area.” 

The larger apparatus bay included in the new fire station also provides for enhanced community safety by housing specialized wildland firefighting apparatus. A type 1 fire engine and type 3 wildland engine were housed at the previous fire station. The new Redwood Fire Station has room to accommodate not only a traditional type 1 engine, but also a type 6 engine and a utility vehicle. The latter two are better able to access narrow mountain roads and trail heads. Unique challenges faced by firefighters in this area include vehicle collisions, technical rescues, and significant wildland-urban interface areas.

“The grand opening of the Redwood Fire Station is a long-awaited vital investment in the safety and well-being for the County, especially residents and families who live here in the mountain areas,” said Santa Clara County Supervisor Otto Lee.

The new Redwood Fire Station was built with purpose, is strategically located to address the needs of the surrounding community and will support community safety and a healthy workforce for generations to come.

Contact: Erica Ray, Information Specialist, 408.341.4496 | [email protected]

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About Santa Clara County Fire Department
The Santa Clara County Fire Department is an internationally accredited California fire protection district serving Santa Clara County and the communities of Campbell, Cupertino, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, and Saratoga. For more information, please visit sccfd.org.