The Plumas National Forest reports that construction preparations began last week on a new Forest Service fire station in Chico. Equipment is being moved on site for the new station at the Chico Seed Orchard, located at 1350 Skyway.
The new facility, named the Feather River Work Center, will house the Feather River Interagency Hotshot Crew and one of two Plumas National Forest Feather River Ranger District engines that lost their station at Brush Creek Work Center during the 2020 North Complex Fire. Construction is expected to take more than a year, with expected completion in fall or winter 2025.
During an Aug. 9 groundbreaking, officials with the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region and Mendocino and Plumas national forests were joined by leadership from the Mechoopda Indian Tribe, staff from the offices of Sen. Alex Padilla and Congressman Doug LaMalfa, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, local officials and other partners to celebrate the new facility. Organizers said approximately 50 people were in attendance.
“We appreciate everyone who came out on a hot Friday morning to celebrate the construction of the Feather River Work Center,” said Feather River District Ranger Loren Everest. “The participation reflects the importance of this project not only for the Feather River Ranger District, but for the community and our partners.”
Everest has the unique perspective of involvement as the Mendocino National Forest Grindstone District ranger in Willows before moving to the Feather River Ranger District in Oroville in January.
“I’ve seen this project with leadership from both forests from the beginning, and it is great to see us coming together to celebrate the start of this construction project,” Everest said. “While it is a Plumas National Forest work center, it would not have been possible without the collaboration and coordination with the Mendocino National Forest and the Chico Seed Orchard. We look forward to continuing to strengthen that relationship.”
Among the attendees at the groundbreaking ceremony were Feather River Hotshot Crew leadership and crewmembers, who completed their assignment to the Park Fire near Chico on Thursday and were able to attend the groundbreaking event on Friday, said organizers. “After helping fight the Park Fire, it shows how important and meaningful this facility is that the Feather River Hotshots were present on Friday and participating in the groundbreaking,” said Feather River Ranger District Fire Management Officer James Lico. “The crew has been through a lot over the past four years and construction on this new station is bringing hope and some excitement for the future of the Feather River Hotshots here in Chico.”
“It has been nearly four years since the North Complex and it is exciting to have a site, building designs and construction starting on a facility for our wildland firefighters affected by the North Complex,” said Plumas National Forest facilities engineer Justine Zeni. “We appreciate the support from the regional office, Mendocino National Forest, Chico Seed Orchard, city of Chico, our contractors and so many others that are making this possible.”
The building location is on existing national forest system lands at the Chico Seed Orchard administered by the Mendocino National Forest. The land is separated by the Butte Creek Diversion Channel and is a dried field with a few trees along the fence line along Skyway. The approximately $13 million facility is funded through federal disaster relief.
The architect for the project is RIM Architects, of San Francisco. Ironwood Commercial Builders Inc., of Concord, is the design-build contractor.
For more information on the Plumas National Forest, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/plumas or http://www.facebook.com/USFSPlumas.
Information provided by Plumas National Forest
