Rocky Ridge, Royal Oak get proper fire station that also houses EMS, police

Firefighters serving the northwest communities of Rocky Ridge and Royal Oak moved from one home to another Wednesday with the opening of the $17 million Royal Vista Multi Services Facility and Fire Station 34.

"Here in these neighbourhoods in Rocky Ridge and Royal Oak, we have been operating a fire hall from a house, which is an innovative way to operate these services but not a very efficient one," said Mayor Naheed Nenshi.

"Now we have this beautiful building which is a fire hall, a place for Calgary Police Service, for EMS as well as for Calgary Community Standards and bylaw officers."

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The complex includes a16-person room for use by the community, which Nenshi called an important addition.

"One of the things about newer neighbourhoods in the city is often there are not gathering places for the community," he said.

"We don't often build community halls that are open to everyone in the community anymore, and so to just a have room in this place, to get people in and out, interacting with the firefighters and police officers and EMS people and bylaw officers, I think that's a great thing.

"It not only provides much needed community space but it creates a sense of community."

Fire Chief Steve Dongworthsaidthe facility was developed with the environment in mind.

"This facility is another step in our commitment to innovation and sustainability while providing key emergency services to Calgarians," he said.

"Royal Vista is now the second fire station to meet LEED gold standards."

Some of the environmentally friendly features include capturing rainwater to be used for irrigation, using LED lighting and solar panels.

The new facility is located at 16 Royal Vista Way N.W.