The fourth of July is always a day to celebrate in this country, but this year at the Grand Canyon it held extra meaning as the park also celebrated the official opening of their new Emergency Services Facility (EMS) on the North Rim. This new building is the center of operations for both the park’s visitor protection and fire and aviation programs and will provide a more consolidated, updated and efficient center for them to operate out of.
Work on the $2.8 million facility began in 2003 after years of planning and included numerous delays in construction. It was funded in combination through both Fire and Aviation (FirePro) and recreational fee (Fee Demo) monies. The 13,500 square foot building consists of 12 offices, a fully supplied fire cache, two holding cells, an interview room, conference room, and bays for structural and wildland engines, as well as an ambulance and search and rescue vehicles. The building also includes numerous offices for both the fire and aviation and visitor protection staffs.
Before the EMS Facility was completed, the North Rim visitor protection and fire and aviation programs worked out of small and scattered buildings in the north rim developed area which made coordination of operations more difficult. Some of these buildings also lacked sufficient storage and did not have up to date connections for computers, telephones and other electronic devices.
With the completion of the EMS Facility, Grand Canyon National Park now has a centralized and efficient facility from which to coordinate a wide variety of operational activities on the north rim and surrounding area. This will provide park visitors with a quicker and more effective response to all types of emergency incidents and help park officials to better carry out their mission of caring for and protecting the resources of the Grand Canyon.
Contact: David Eaker, Fire Communication and Education Specialist
Phone: (435) 772-7811 |
