ReachExtra
April next year is when, all things being equal, the municipality of Tarifa finally inaugurates its long awaited new fire station. The modern facility will be fully equipped to allow the crews to deal with emergencies within their large area of responsibility. The local authority covers not just the City of Tarifa but also Facinas, Tahivilla and 19 other rural centres with a total permanent population of some 18,000 and three times that number in the summer months.
With this development ends a long wait which started in 1985 and during which fire fighters have had to carry out their crucially important work in conditions which have often fallen well short of the magnitude of the tasks entrusted to them.
After many ups and downs, broken promises and every kind of obstacle the local government presided by Francisco Ruíz and the president of the Fire Services Consortium, Francisco Vaca, have taken the final strides to end this anachronism. 5,000 square metres of land in the La Marina area were allocated to the fire brigade. Of this some 2,000 square metres are designated for the station’s buildings. The design is similar to that of the fire stations of San Roque and Jimena. The construction was awarded to ‘Ferrovial’ at a cost of €2,556,356 with a completion time of 18 months ending in April 2019. The fleet will consist of 3 bays, four fire engines, a light urban pump,a heavier rural pump, a light rescue truck and a logistical support vehicle .In addition to other modern equipment there will be accommodation for crews of up to 16 fire-fighters.
The technicians at the Consortium assigned to the fire station acknowledge that regardless of individual preferences the facilities are located in an optimum location, near the main town area and with a clear exit to the road, to allow for rapid reaction.
This is undoubtedly the highlight of the Fire Services Consortium under Francisco Vaca’s mandate. A new facility to cater for the needs and expectations of the population of the Tarifa area in general and the firefighters in particular.
The long wait is now nearly over.
