THOUSAND OAKS : Fire Station Boarded Up but It’s Still Open
The six-foot chain-link fence encircling the boarded-up fire station at the corner of Avenida de los Arboles and Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks might indicate that the station is closed.
But closer inspection reveals two tiny cardboard signs hanging from the fence. One reads, “Fire station open.” The other, “Firefighters in mobile home in the rear.”
“We want to let people know that we are open during our renovation,” said Firefighter John Foy, as he stood inside one of the mobile homes behind the station. The mobile homes are equipped with beds, televisions and an incident printer. The three firefighters on duty at the station are carrying special beepers during construction so they will not miss calls.
The station is undergoing $75,000 worth of renovations to its sleeping quarters and communications system, making the building uninhabitable. The station has not undergone renovations since it was built in 1961.
Foy said the department has received several calls from people who wanted to know if the station is closed.
“We want to let them know that service will not be interrupted in any way,” Foy said. “In the meantime, it’s just like we’re camping.”
Renovations to the station, which covers more square miles than any other Thousand Oaks station, should be completed by May 20. The Ventura County Fire Protection District plans to hold an open house when the renovations are complete.
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