Small town city leaders faced an unsettling reality – the imminent demolition of their 70s era fire department and displacement of their emergency infrastructure. The top priority became how to maintain around-the-clock fire and emergency services essential to protecting citizens and properties.
Community leaders proposed a solution which included a new site close to the old building and the installation of a turnkey temporary structure. Once they secured the location, the focus became finding a vendor capable of handling a quick turnaround for such an important project.
Sunbelt Rentals' long list of successful temporary firehouse structure installations in our portfolio provided ample evidence for the city leaders as they conducted potential vendor research. They selected Sunbelt Rentals for the job because of our proficiency with firehouse structures, responsiveness and decades of experience in the industry.
The Challenge
Time was a key consideration for this project. The client wanted to begin demolition of the old firehouse quickly which hinged on getting a temporary site operational as soon as possible. The structure’s most important function was to house the department’s main firetruck – a vehicle crucial to local first-responder emergencies.
They requested a fast turnaround on the installation of the structure and a product that was durable enough to remain in place until the new firehouse was ready for occupancy. Other requested features included quick, easy access for the first responders and the ability to deploy the firetruck at a moment’s notice.
Additionally, the structure required interior lighting and heating. In the northeast, snow loads are always a consideration; therefore, adherence to codes was critical.
The client’s structure needed:
- Fast installation
- A structure customized to fit the location and seamlessly serve the community
- A structure large enough to house a fire engine
- A bay door to serve as the firetruck entrance and exit
- One personnel door for firefighters and emergency responders
- Professional project management to ensure city regulations for snow loads followed
- Lighting and heating packages
The Result
The fire department began the demolition of the old firehouse on schedule. Officials are very pleased with the quick turnaround Sunbelt Rentals provided and that their first responders are currently able to quickly access the temporary firehouse and fully serve the local community.
The Takeaways:
A local fire station is the critical hub for first responders in cities and communities across the country. Firefighters and EMTs are on the front line of defense when fires or natural disasters happen or pose a threat to citizens’ lives or property.
It’s important to have a vendor you can rely on to get the job done when you’re tasked with supporting emergency efforts. Sunbelt Rentals has years of “boots on the ground” experience installing temporary firehouses and extreme weather structures that can be installed and operational in just a few days. Our portfolio of projects has hundreds of examples.
If you’re in a time sensitive situation that requires a quick, reliable, professional partner, call one of our expert project managers at Sunbelt Rentals.