Calgary Fire Department opens emergency response station for Calgary’s budding southeast communities
Calgary, AB - Today the Calgary Fire Department rang the bell to mark the official opening of Seton Emergency Response Station and the Seton Multi-Service Facility. Hundreds of residents from the surrounding communities joined area MLA and Associate Minister of Public Safety Rick Fraser, Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi, and Calgary Fire Chief Bruce Burrell for the opening celebrations.
“As the Associate Minister for Public Safety and a former first-responder, I know how important emergency response services are to a community. With this new local emergency response station and other City services close at hand, residents of Calgary South East can look forward to seeing their community grow, feeling safe and secure,” said Rick Fraser, MLA for Calgary-South East, who has worked as an advanced-care paramedic and in the ambulance service for more than 10 years.
The Seton Multi-Service Facility, located next to the South Health Campus on Seton Drive S.E., was operational at the end of 2013, providing services to the communities of Auburn Bay, Cranston, Mahogany and Seton. The new facility houses the Seton Emergency Response Station, offices for the City of Calgary Parks, and will eventually be a home for the Calgary Police Service and Animal & Bylaw Services.
“This new facility and its emergency response station are a fantastic example of Council’s commitment to ensuring every Calgarian lives in a safe, vibrant and active community. It also demonstrates our commitment to planning for the future,” said Mayor Naheed Nenshi.
Last year, the Calgary Fire Department responded to 490 incidents in Auburn Bay, Cranston, Mahogany and Seton - an increase of 83 incidents from 2012. Between 2011 and 2013, the four southeast communities have grown by more than 6,500 people - an average increase of 18% per year. Today, more than 24,000 residents live in these four budding communities.
“The CFD is very proud to officially open this multi-service facility which houses the Seton Emergency Response Station. Our city is growing, with new communities being developed in all quadrants, and more families needing access to Calgary Fire Department services,” said Fire Chief Burrell. “This new facility not only allows the CFD to provide emergency response services for nearby residents, but is also an opportunity to create an effective service-hub for local communities.”
The Seton Multi-Service Facility is built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold standards, and features skylights in the apparatus bay which allow in sunlight and decrease the amount of energy used during the day. The facility also features solar hot water heaters, LED light fixtures, low-flow water fixtures and water-conserving landscaping to reduce its environmental footprint.
The total cost for the building, land, apparatus and equipment was $19 million. Of that total, $15.8 million was provided by the Government of Alberta’s Municipal Sustainability Initiative.
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