Members of the city's Twin Palms neighborhood and other adjacent communities got their first look at the newly renovated Palm Springs Fire Station No. 4 on Laverne Way Tuesday. It shut down nearly four years ago due to asbestos, lead-based paint and other hazards and a $5.2 million construction and renovation project began in May 2018.  

"This was by far the worst (station). Firefighters were staying in trailers, because this was so bad," Palm Springs Mayor Robert Moon said during a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by dozens of city officials, staff and residents.

During the closure, firefighters serving the southern communities of Palm Springs came from other stations across the city.

But there were reports that one of the Alameda County fire engines was involved in a rollover accident during the fire fight. The rumor was quickly stopped, however.  

"Engine 320 wasn't involved in a rollover but it did get stuck in soft terrain and was carefully removed by Dozer 17 and a Cal Fire Dozer," the Alameda County Fire Department reported on social media. "... thankfully, the crew didn't sustain any injuries and the damage to the engine was minor."

Having the two services side-by-side “goes back 60 and 70 years,” Newport Beach Mayor Diane Dixon said. “We’re continuing that with a modern facility. The community felt it was something they all grew up with. It’s a smaller branch library, but it made sense.”  

The modern, 10,314-square-foot facility replaces two buildings which housed the old Fire Station No. 5 and the community’s library branch. Construction on the $8.3 million project began in April 2018.  

The joint facility will make it easier for both fire and library officials to do their job, officials said.