NEW FIRE STATION 616 OPENS AS 2021 FIRE SEASON BEGINS Helen Hemphill and Wendy Whitman
The City of Scottsdale’s Fire Department will open its newest fire station in April at 10986 E. Loving Tree Lane, off North Cave Creek Road. The station is just north of Desert Hills Drive and is part of the Department’s strategic plan to consistently offer fourminute response time to the communities it serves. Currently, response time in far north Scottsdale, including Desert Mountain, is approximately eight minutes.
WE ARE THANKFUL AND EXCITED TO MOVE INTO THIS BEAUTIFUL F I R E S TAT I O N . — C A P TA I N M A C K
at Carefree since 2012 and transitioned to the new station. Fire Station 616 is staffed 24/7/365 with a fire engine and brush truck, utilizing a threeplatoon system, each working 24hour shifts. Each crew is comprised of a captain, engineer and two firefighters, who provide either paramedic or EMT services, in addition to their fire suppression capabilities. Captain Mack stated, “We are thankful and excited to move into this beautiful fire station and continue to provide service to the citizens from a location that is better suited to improve our response times.” A $4.13 million dollar project, Fire Station 616 was funded by Scottsdale’s 2015 general bond fund. The facility includes crew quarters, an OSHA certified decontamination area, safety gear storage and an apparatus bay for a fire engine and brush truck. Scottsdale Assistant Fire Chief Ryan Freeburg commented, “Our goal was to blend into the fabric of the community as a beacon of public safety for our citizens and visitors, and we think we have achieved that objective.” MACO Construction completed the project. Captain Jim Mack, a 32year veteran of the fire service, worked at FS616’s location near Sky Ranch
10 | Desert Mountain Connection
Backed by the Scottsdale Fire Department, the station offers community education, hazardous
