NCFPD approves purchase, construction contract for modular Station 3

The North County Fire Protection District's Station 3 in Rainbow will have a new modular building.

A 5-0 NCFPD board vote, Feb. 23, authorized up to $425,000 for the purchase, construction and installation of the new building, declared the modular building to be a sole source project and authorized NCFPD Fire Chief Steve Abbott to execute a contract for the construction and installation.

"This will be an option that I think will serve us well," Keith McReynolds, NCFPD division chief for administrative services and training, said.

The North County Fire Protection District was created in 1986 when the Fallbrook Fire Protection District merged with the county service area which provided fire protection to Rainbow and Gavilan Mountain was added to the new district. The Rainbow Volunteer Fire Department retained its autonomy, and the Rainbow fire station became NCFPD Station 6. The station was renamed Station 3 in 2018 when the original Station 3 in Olive Hill was closed due to the relocation of Station 5 in Bonsall. The Rainbow Volunteer Fire Department was consolidated into the North County Fire Protection District in 2018.

Because the Rainbow fire station utilized a volunteer fire department, living quarters were not incorporated into the design.

"The crews aren't even sleeping in the same area. They're on different sides of the station," McReynolds said.

"I see the need for sure," NCFPD board member David Kennedy said.

The October 2020 NCFPD board meeting included approval of a Facilities Replacement Plan which calls for a temporary Station 3 facility this year.

"That modular building would be appropriate for that project," McReynolds said.

The existing fire station will remain and will be used for such functions as storage, laundry facilities and an exercise and a fitness area.

Custom floor plans cannot follow standard floor plans constructed on assembly lines.

"It's going to have to be a custom manufactured structure," McReynolds said.

The fire district had to identify custom construction companies.

"We ended up finding a builder," McReynolds said.

Pacific Homes is based in San Marcos and has constructed modular buildings for the Carlsbad and Rancho Santa Fe fire departments and for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Input from those agencies provided a positive NCFPD opinion about Pacific Homes.

"They were pretty happy and recommended that we go this route for this particular project," McReynolds said.

A competitive bid process would not have provided any other submissions.

"There's only one builder out there," McReynolds said.

The construction cost is estimated at between $150 and $200 per square foot. The 2020-2021 NCFPD budget allocated $400,000 for the new temporary Rainbow fire station. Pacific Homes would design, build, deliver and install the modular building and would also provide utility connection. The cost will also include hardscape and a covered walkway to the existing apparatus bay.

"This is definitely the cheapest way to go," McReynolds said.

The lack of existing inventory for a custom modular building, other construction commitments and coronavirus protocol will create a time period between the order and the actual installation. "That process can take six to 12 months," McReynolds said.

A modular building currently on the site has been used as a training facility. That building will be removed; if any interest in that building is conveyed to the district, the new owner will be responsible for relocation while, if the current modular building is to be sent to a waste site, the transport and waste disposal cost would be approximately $25,000.

Joe Naiman can be reached by email at [email protected].