A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on July 24 for the new Central Emergency Services Fire Station 1, located at 265 Wilson Lane in Soldotna. The ceremony began at 4:00 PM with an open house that followed, during which free hamburgers and hot dogs were served, and the public toured the building and met CES personnel. The event marked an important moment in the community’s history. Mayor Peter Micciche and Fire Chief Roy Browning spoke briefly prior to the ribbon cutting, and CES Chaplain Frank Alioto delivered the invocation.
The new fire station was built by Blazy Construction, the lowest bidder, for approximately $18 million, funded through a bond approved by voters in October of 2022. The new 26,665 square foot firehouse, designed by local architectural firm K&A Design Studios, includes 10 bays for fire trucks and other emergency vehicles and 10 sleeping units for crew.
The former CES headquarters was originally built as a community hall in the late 1950s and was expanded in the early ’80s. The service area’s growing EMS needs had outgrown the small, aging, and expensive-to-maintain facility.
CES responds to approximately 2,000 emergency calls annually, a number that continues to rise as the community grows. CES covers much of the central peninsula from Kasilof through Soldotna and past Sterling, as well as the entire Funny River Road area.
The new station houses up to 12 EMS personnel, a significant increase from the four the old building accommodated. Station 1 also includes additional storage for supplies and equipment used not only at CES but also at the other four stations across the expansive fire service area.
Additional parking now accommodates the station’s vehicles, crew, and the public — a sorely needed upgrade from the old space, which was inadequate and shared with the Soldotna Police Department. The new fire station is more efficient and fit-for-purpose, delivering lasting operational savings.
Mayor Peter Micciche said in his opening remarks, “As citizens you have expressed your support for fire and EMS services clearly through the years while wisely fighting to keep this government lean and mean, providing only priority services that you have asked for with your precious tax dollars. Our motto is to provide the best quality services that you have requested at the lowest cost possible to you. Thank you for being partners in that endeavor. This facility is yours. We are only here to serve you, and we are deeply grateful to you for your active support in the construction of this functional, beautiful CES Station.”
Chief Roy Browning added, “Today isn’t just about opening a new fire station. It is about honoring nearly seventy years of people who made this day possible. On behalf of the men and women of Central Emergency Services, thank you for joining us as we dedicate and commission our new Station #1 Headquarters. Thank you for believing in your fire department. Thank you for supporting this project, and thank you for placing your trust in us. We understand the responsibility that comes with that trust, and we will continue working every day to earn it.”
Press release provided by the Office of Borough Mayor Peter A. Micciche.
