Westfield Fire Station under construction to be finished by Fall 2011

REPLACEMENT STATION: The Westfield Fire Department station under construction at Lauder Road will replace the existing station across the street

By JULIETA PAITA

Emergency Services District No. 25 on the Northside of Houston has started construction of their new, bigger station for Westfield Volunteer Fire Department.
The existing fire station located at 4105 Lauder Road near JFK Blvd. will be replaced by a new building across the street.
“This will be a combination department where we don’t just volunteer, we train also,” said Maureen Turrentine, Fire Chief of the Westfield Fire Department. “Our training facility that will be there that will contain a big training room, and a large conference room.”
The new station would have 19,800 square feet compared to the existing station with only 5000 to 6000 square feet. “This is going to be the first time we have everything in one spot,” said Turrentine.

The Westfield Fire Department serves a 15 square-mile area and provides service to 25,000 residents in a territory bordered by the city of Houston to the south, the Hardy Toll Rd. to the west, Aldine-Bender to the north and US 59 to the East. The Westfield Fire Department operates two stations that protect primarily residential areas. “Last year there were 3, 200 reported fires in our area,” said Turrentine and this year, they almost reached the same number.
Fire Chief Maureen Turrentine said there is a possibility to sell the existing building once the new one is completed, and more personnel could be hire or a new truck could be purchased. “There is a crew 24 hours-7 days a week,” said Turrentine.
The new building is expected to be open by August of 2011.