The hose was ceremonially split to commemorate the completion of a new multi-use fire station in the northeast, as call volumes continue to rise in the area.

The Cornerstone Fire Station was unveiled Sept. 2 and will replace the temporary station located in Skyview come Sept. 24, with the potential for expansion in trucks and firefighters as the area builds out.

The building had a $16 million first phase, which included the two-bay fire hall, plus a hazardous waste drop-off. The ground broke on the facility 14 months ago.  Future phases will include non-market housing on the site.

The new fire station will serve the communities of Cityscape, Cornerstone, Redstone and Skyview Ranch, along with Stonegate Landing.

Both Mayor Jyoti Gondek and Calgary Fire Department Chief Steve Dongworth noted the more than 130 per cent increase in call volume in these areas over the past few years. It is a new area, however, and the buildout has been significant in that time.

“As we cut the ribbon, let’s make sure we remember this isn’t only the opening of the station, it is a promise kept to our growing city,” said Gondek.

“We are here to keep you safe, to care for the people who care for us, and to build communities where everyone can feel secure and supported.”

Chief Dongworth said that the addition of this station will help improve response times by up to two minutes in the area. He said once a fire starts rolling, it can double in size every 30 seconds, and in medical calls, particularly heart attacks, survival decreases 10 per cent for every minute without treatment.

“This station will be an important asset to the community for years to come,” he said.

Not just about brick and mortar: Coun. Raj Dhaliwal

Ward 5 Coun. Raj Dhaliwal said every day he hears from northeast residents about the growing density in the new communities. He said the two minutes in improved response is a big deal.

“I’ve always believed that we’ve got to give safe neighbourhoods and stronger communities to our residents, and this is symbolic of that,” he said.

“This is not just about bricks and mortar, exactly. This is about someone sitting across Country Hills on the south side of Cornerstone, believing that if something goes wrong, I’m in safe hands.”

The new household hazardous waste drop-off location will allow people to drop off corrosive, flammable, poisonous or explosive items safely, fire officials said.

The non-market housing planned for the site is currently unfunded. The City said that means there are no immediate plans for development. They also said that they are exploring the option of selling the land to a non-market, third-party housing provider.

Mayor Gondek said that it’s a decision that would have to come to council. She did not answer a question on what state the parcel would remain. It’s currently in a state of construction and moved earth.

“Any number of units that we can bring to market are incredibly important, and for this site to be below market, housing is desperately needed in our city,” she said.

The development hopes to achieve LEED gold standard and was a collaborative effort between several city departments.