I am writing this as an open letter to the community regarding the new fire stations for Evergreen and Foothills. The community should visit the fire department’s website under the link “Future of Station One,” and they will see that there is more than enough justification for building the new facility.

The fire district owns the land and they have saved up nearly $6 million to build it. They are also scaling it back due to the rising supply chain issues and rise in costs. This station will consolidate the existing stations 1 and 4. It also needs to be large enough to house and aerial truck. Evergreen needs a second aerial tower. This will actually drop your insurance rates. This truck can also provide mutual aid to Elk Creek.

The Foothills Fire District and Alpine Rescue are also getting new stations, but these are being built at no cost by Northstar Ventures. Foothills responds to the interstate. It covers the area of Mount Vernon, Lookout Mountain, Riva Chase and Idledale. This includes the land around Red Rocks that isn’t West Metro.

These stations will have hot and cold areas for firefighter bunker gear, hoses and equipment that is contaminated. Firefighters get cancer. We need to thank our volunteers for putting $4 per gallon gas in their personal vehicles to go to a fire or medical calls for free. They deserve top-notch facilities that yes even offer quarters for overnight or weekend shifts as well as recreation, fitness etc.

Please turn off the noise by disgruntled people who didn’t get their way. We don’t need grant writers. We don’t need amateurs. Every fire district has a professional fire chief and staff now. There are standards of cover. They exceed them or will once these facilities are completed.

Nate Marshall, Evergreen