Press Release
Brad Mitzelfelt
Supervisor, First District San Bernardino County
SAN BERNARDINO – The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors today authorized improvements at County fire stations in the communities of Hinkley and Trona. Supervisors approved plans to replace the Trona Fire Station parking lot and to purchase a vacant lot next to the Hinkley station to accommodate future expansions.
“Ensuring adequate fire facilities in our communities is vital to preserving public safety,” said First District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt, who represents the areas. “But it’s especially important in our outlying areas.”
Supervisors approved a project to replace the existing asphalt driveway and parking areas with a concrete driveway and parking areas at the Trona Fire Station, located at 83732 Trona Road. The asphalt pavement at the station is more than 30 years old and has severely deteriorated. The project will replace the driveway and parking area in the front and rear of the station. The project will also include an Americans with Disabilities Act accessible ramp to the front entrance and ADA accessible parking stalls. The project is expected to cost $150,000.
Supervisors also approved the purchase of a nearly half-acre parcel of land adjacent to the Hinkley fire station on the southwest corner of Acacia Street and Flower Avenue. The land was purchased for $8,000 and will be used by the department for future facility expansions on the site.
The improvements are the most recent in a series of improvements to fire safety in outlying areas. A much-needed fire station in the Goffs area to provide coverage on Interstate 40 and the remote eastern Mojave Desert took its first step toward becoming a reality in August when the Board of Supervisors approved the sale of surplus land to the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District. Goffs is situated 30 miles west of Needles and 50 miles east of Amboy.
Supervisor Mitzelfelt also continues to work toward planning a fire station to serve Interstate 40 in the area between Ludlow and Amboy. On June 24, Supervisor Mitzelfelt secured Board of Supervisors approval for $300,000 to go toward design work for the station.
The proposed station in Goffs would augment fire protection and rescue services to the eastern Mojave Desert and the transportation corridors of I-40, Highway 95 and Route 66 (National Trails Highway). That would also provide the communities of Baker, Needles, Havasu Lake and Kelso with an additional resource for rescue.