Council May Suggest Moving Fire Station

The City Council is considering asking the county Fire Department to move Fire Station 42 to the old-town section of High Street.

The council will take up the matter at its Aug. 18 meeting.

The Fire Department has told city officials that it will soon expand station 42, on Moorpark Avenue across from Moorpark Community Center, to accommodate a large hook-and-ladder truck used to combat industrial fires.

“We had discussed [the move] when they first brought up that they were remodeling,” said Councilman John Wozniak. “We just want them to be able to look at all their options.”

City officials believe moving the station would benefit the city by bringing more traffic downtown. The move also could benefit the Fire Department by saving money on remodeling, Wozniak said.

“One advantage for them to build a new [station] is while they’re remodeling they’re going to have to move out,” he said. “If they build a new one they don’t have to relocate, they stay where they are and then just move over, so there might be some cost savings involved.”

Fire Department officials were unavailable for comment.

High Street has been a source of concern for city officials in recent years. Businesses have continued to close along the historic thoroughfare while Los Angeles Avenue has gradually increased its position as Moorpark’s main commercial corridor.

Although relocating the fire station wouldn’t solve all the city’s problems, it would be a step in the right direction, Wozniak said.