When construction is completed, the station’s entire structure will be updated and there will be another 2,600 square feet of space. Plans also indicate the station will have new living quarters and a larger parking lot.

The tribe has often donated equipment to public safety forces in Palm Springs, Cathedral City and Rancho Mirage. On Thursday, Tribal Council members announced a donation of six sets each of wildfire and structural gear, including coats, pants, goggles, boots and gloves, for the half dozen newly hired and trained firefighters the department was able to bring on board after securing a federal grant last year.

from the Level Cross Community Center.

Chief Stephen “Steve” Russell said in an interview the move is a necessity.

“We’ve just outgrown the old location,” he said.

The existing fire department was built in 1970, Russell said, with an addition made to the structure 10 years ago. In 1970, the department was staffed by volunteers who came in for fire emergencies but then went back home, he said. Today, the department has two full-time firefighters, three part-time firefighters and 22 volunteers.

His staff has to participate in on-going classes each Tuesday and sometimes on Saturday. However, the old building has only one room for such activities. It has an occupancy capacity of 15. The same space has to serve as a meeting room, day room and kitchen in addition to being a classroom, Russell said.

Then, there is the nature of fire engines in the new millennium, Russell said. The old building has bays with 10-by-10-foot doors. Russell’s fire engines are much larger than they were in 1970. His staff has to be especially careful as they pull the 9-foot, 8-inch truck in and out of that 10-foot-tall door.

In fact, Russell said, the department purchased a new fire engine in 2016 but had to have it modified to fit the old station doors.

Russell said the new facility will provide plenty of room for all of the department’s existing requirements plus give it room to grow.