News: Possible new aerial firefighting facility in Hemet

Editor: Basically a complete remodel of existing facilities at Hemet-Ryan Air Attack Base

Supervisors consider new aerial firefighting facility in Hemet

RIVERSIDE – The Riverside County Board of Supervisors is expected to consider Tuesday a proposed joint agreement between the county and state to construct a new aerial firefighting facility in Hemet.

The Hemet-Ryan Air Attack Base project would involve demolishing existing structures at the 12-acre tanker base on Hemet-Ryan airfield and replacing them with bigger, more efficient facilities, according to the county's Economic Development Agency.

“The project includes a new hangar for observation aircraft and helicopters, a two-story air operations facility, a dormitory and dining hall, a three-bay fire apparatus building, protective weather canopy for the venerable S-2 air tankers, and a fire retardant mixing plant with a capacity of 40,000 gallons,” said EDA spokesman Tom Freeman.

Riverside County Fire Capt. Pat Tomlinson, the base supervisor, said the proposed 5,800-square-foot dormitory has been needed for a long time, noting that during operations, many firefighters stationed at the base go elsewhere to sleep because the triple-wide trailer now in use lacks sufficient space.

The estimated cost of site demolition and construction is expected to be just under $24 million, according to the EDA.

The board approved allocating $2.5 million in Redevelopment Agency funds in June. The state intends to cover the balance, the EDA said.

According to Freeman, a joint agreement was necessary because the project involves the California Department of Forestry, or Cal Fire, with which the county contracts for fire protection services.

“Economic Development Agency team members, along with Cal Fire personnel, will work jointly to develop, design and construct the new facilities,” he said.

Pilots and aircraft at the base provide aerial firefighting coverage for more than 830,000 acres in Riverside and surrounding counties.

“This project is one of the most significant undertakings the agency (EDA) has worked on in many years, and we are going to make sure we provide Cal Fire and its fleet of air tankers and firefighting crews with the best air attack facilities in the state,” said Robin Zimpfer, EDA assistant executive officer.

The proposed design planner for the new base is Sacramento-based Dean Unger Architecture and Environmental Planning, according to Freeman.

Provided the board approves the agreement today, he said, demolition of current base facilities will get under way in 18 months. Construction would proceed simultaneously, with a projected completion date sometime in early 2011, Freeman said.

Temporary facilities would be set up adjacent to the airfield to allow fire attack operations to proceed unimpeded, he said.

Source article at: signonsandiego.com