Tuesday, January 27, 1998
Firefighters hope to extinguish problems
WESTWOOD Worn tiles, electrical problems, rats plague local
firestation
By Rachel Munoz
Daily Bruin Staff
One morning a Westwood firefighter had an experience he will
never forget: finding rat droppings in his coffee. Sound bad? This
is only one of many problems at Westwood’s Firestation 37, because
of lack of funding from the City of Los Angeles.
"The city with its budget cuts just can’t do it," said Captain
Wolf Knabe, who resides at the Station when is on duty. Firestation
37 is located on Veteran near Wilshire.
Besides what is described as "heavy rat infestation," Knabe adds
that the tile in the firehouse is worn all the way through to the
cement.
"We have an antiquated electrical system," said Captain Scott
Frasier. With five computers and the station’s exercise equipment,
the system is on overload.
Frasier also mentions that windows are falling out and there are
a lot of leaks throughout the station.
Because of the very old electrical wiring, exhaust fans that
remove carcinogenic diesel exhaust from the fire engines have not
been installed.
Furthermore, a washer and dryer that were purchased to wash the
fireman’s protective clothing which is often exposed to toxic
byproducts of combustion and hazardous body fluids, remains unused
because of inadequate electrical circuits.
Lastly, the exterior wood paneling of the firehouse is rotting
in spots where the paint has chipped away and there is a lack of
substantial air conditioning.
What might seem like the downfall of a station may be attributed
to its age.
"It was built in 1942, originally as a temporary station,"
Frasier said. But the 56-year old wood frame structure has remained
in use because of budgetary constraints and an ever-growing Los
Angeles community.
Due to these budget cuts, firestations in the Los Angeles area
are looking to a new program called Adopt a Station to bring back
the standard of living for the firemen.
All of the things needed to repair Firestation 37 could be found
in the Adopt-a-Station program. Such a program aims to bring the
community together with the firestation, and aid in the upkeep of
the firehouse. Such upkeep would not only solve some of Firestation
37’s problems, but allow for the maintenance of the building.
Knabe hopes that non-profits will help with "money, building
supplies, or connections to contractors."
"It is a joint effort between private citizens and private
companies," Frasier said. "They raise funds to make repairs…and
for us to remain effective."
Firestation 37 can look to their neighbor Firestation 19 to see
the difference community support has made.
During the past year that the Adopt a Station program has been
implemented, Firestation 19 has had an exhaust removal system put
in and an electric gate installed for their side yard. Their
kitchen is currently being remodeled and after that is finished,
new kitchen appliances will be furnished.
"The majority of work is yet to be done," said Paramedic Don
McMillan, who works out of Station 19. "But some improvements have
been made."
The adoption program of Firestation 19 has taken force through
the work of the entire community, McMillan adds. Their program
consists of a committee of local residents that handle donations
through a local school.
For Firestation 37’s adoption program, interested community
members include the Brentwood Glen Association, a Brentwood school,
and the Rotary Club.
"We’ve only known about it for about six months, but we just
started taking it up a little bit," Knabe said. "On Feb. 6 there is
a meeting at the station to try to get people involved."