The Bend community has warmly welcomed an instantly iconic new fire station near Pilot Butte that pays homage to a century-long history, while also reducing response times for vital emergency services. At the same time, Tumalo has unveiled a similar facility, as part of a flagship $7.8 million two-pronged project.

The new 10,000 sq. ft. Bend project, known officially as Pilot Butte Station #306, has been constructed just south of the City’s Police Department headquarters, off Greenwood and 15th, and features the same grand brick exterior and distinctive big red carriage-style doors as the original historic downtown firehall that was built in 1919 and shuttered some 20 years ago.

The Tumalo building, at 8,636 sq. ft., adjoins the previous 70’s vintage station, which will now be used for storage including antique tenders and protective equipment, and features some lower brick facade, but an overall more contemporary design in keeping with some of the more modern neighboring buildings in the area.

Both buildings came in at around $3.9 million, with relatively higher costs per sq. ft. for the Tumalo project due to stringent seismic requirements that saw some 100 stabilizing pilings driven 50 ft. down through a pumice subsurface into underlying bedrock.

Classified as type 4 seismic “critical facilities,” they are both able to withstand current code forces and have back-up generators, as well as being highly energy efficient.

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