Executive Director Tom Fay said Wednesday the current Tumalo Station is too small. It can't accommodate both men and women, and it does not meet safety standards. The station was last rebuilt in 1998. 

The district, which contracts with Bend Fire for service outside the city, has been saving money for both stations for close to 20 years, but these are early plans that are subject to change before construction could begin. 

The station near Pilot Butte would have a brick exterior and an area the police can use for training, and would look like a traditional fire station. 

The fire truck and the academy are a result of a partnership between CHCCS’s Career and Technical Education Department, the Chapel Hill Fire Department and Durham Tech Community College. Students can attend firefighting classes starting their sophomore year and earn credit toward an associate’s degree along with a certification.  

Superintendent Pam Baldwin said she believes the fire truck will be instrumental in providing students with first-hand career technical experience.  

“In education circles, we always talk about how important career technical education is for our students,” said Baldwin. “We talk about it all the time because we know how important it is for our students to have real experiences and to find their passion.”