Cary Fire Protection District Retrofits Second Fire Station to Protect Firefighters and Equipment

Through a capital improvement plan, the Cary Fire Protection District recently retrofitted Station 2 with a fire sprinkler system. This comes ten years after Station 1 was retrofitted. Now all of the fire district’s firefighters and equipment are protected from fire while in quarters.

The fire sprinkler system at Station 2 protects 9,400 square feet, which includes sleeping quarters for six, an apparatus bay, and a mechanical room. The 6,800 square foot apparatus bay accommodates eight vehicles including an ambulance, two fire engines, a tanker, a grass-fire jeep, two pickup trucks, and a dive trailer.

Chief Brad Delatorre said he feels comfortable knowing the fire district’s firefighters, building and apparatus are protected. “I would hate to see us out on a call and something happen to the firehouse. If something caused a fire in either of our stations, sprinklers will keep the fire in check,” he said.

Automatic Fire Systems retrofit Station 2, but were able to do so with relative ease since staff temporarily moved out of the building. One challenge of the project was upgrading a two-inch water main line to an eight-inch line Delatorre said.

Station 1 was retrofitted with fire sprinklers in 2013 and then had a remodel a few years ago that required additional fire sprinkler work. The station is 15,100 square feet with 8 sleeping quarters and accommodates 7 vehicles. Nelson Fire Protection initially retrofit Station 1 and Absolute Fire Protection installed the sprinklers in the later addition.

“In addition to protecting our firefighters and our firehouses, it is important to set an example for the community,” said Fire Inspector Scott Pelletreau.

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