In Quarters: Belgrade, MT - Central Valley Fire District Station #1

This facility received a special Innovative Design Award in Firehouse's 2020 Station Design Awards. Find the full list of winners here.

Central Valley Fire District Station #1 lies on an undisturbed site at the northwest intersection of Airway Boulevard and Wings Way near Belgrade, MT. Station #1 is revolutionary in its approach to isolating environmental contaminants.

The project comprises two buildings: the primary 17,750-square-foot main station and the secondary 2,232-sq. ft. decontamination building. The two-building concept is driven by a “Hot Zone/Cold Zone” cross-contamination-reduction philosophy, one of the first of its kind. The decontamination building is the “Hot Zone,” with the sole function to clean contaminants from equipment and personnel. Once clean, equipment is transferred to the “Warm Zone” in the primary station’s apparatus bay. By isolating the majority of contaminants to the decontamination building, the work and living area of the facility conceptually shifts to a “Cold Zone,” which creates a safe, clean work and living environment for administration and firefighters. 

Station #1 includes a four-bay, double-deep apparatus bay, a large training room for station and community functions, administrative offices and living quarters for as many as 16 firefighters.

VFIS, which is one the leading insurance carriers for emergency organizations, produced a short educational documentary on the health and wellness benefits of this innovative facility design.

Architect/Firm Name: ThinkOne.