“Why did we do this? It was very, very obvious we needed a new one,” Mayor Trish Herrera Spencer told the crowd gathered at the event. The afternoon unveiling of the 9,000-square-foot station at 165 Buena Vista Ave. attracted children dressed in mock fire turnout gear with toy fire trucks in hand as well as citizens who participate in the city’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

For years, firefighters at Station 3 on Grand Avenue lived in a rented home beside a building that housed their gear, emergency equipment and trucks. This new facility allows the firefighters to live inside the station. It features a two apparatus bays, a conference room, a public lobby and a large kitchen.

Fire Chief Rick Ennis prided the department, saying they were able to gain the support and respect of taxpayers through their services to the area.  

“I want to thank again the firefighters, and understand the fact that they're out there delivering service to anybody, anytime, anywhere. You call, we come. And there's not too many businesses or agencies that can say that.”

Some 350 firefighters – 52 engines – were on the Skirball Fire, which had burned at least four homes and possibly six by 9:30 a.m.  

About 400 firefighters were working the Creek Fire, which broke out early Tuesday, Terrazas said. About 30 structures have been destroyed there.  

Fifteen engines from the Creek Fire were moved to the Skirball Fire Wednesday, the chief said at a morning news conference.

The two fires in the city of Los Angeles came after LAFD had sent firefighters to the massive Thomas Fire in Ventura County.