LAX to Get New Fire Station
The facility better accommodates newer aircraft
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401556 02: Darkness settles around the large LAX letters that welcome travelers to Los Angeles International Airport February 25, 2002, in Los Angeles, CA. Terror threats and suspicious packages at LAX have kept officals busy. A bomb squad investigated a tin of cookies left unattended tonight. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and other officials broke ground Friday on a new $13.5 million Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Facility station at LAX.
Known as Fire Station 80, Villaraigosa said it will "make the airport better prepared to handle any type of emergency."
At 27,500 square feet, the new fire station will be double the size of the existing facility, with seven bays to house and maintain rescue vehicles and emergency response equipment.
The facility also better accommodates operations associated with newer aircraft including the Airbus 380 and the Boeing 787. The station will be located midway between the north and south airfield complexes, and will be manned by 14 firefighters per 24 hour shift.
The project will be funded mostly with federal stimulus money including $10.8 million in Federal Aviation Administration grants and $2.7 million in airport revenue bond proceeds.
Airport officials estimate as many as 200 jobs will be created during construction.
