The new building will consist of four major components: an 10,774 square foot fire station with two drive-through apparatus bays; a South Operations Center for Integrated Operations staff and its support; a multi-purpose room that also serves as a Battalion Headquarters and back-up Fire Operations Center if needed; and an IT/Communications server room for disaster recovery/business continuity.

Project photos

Project updates

January 2013

The bulk of the exterior structure is now complete, allowing contractors to begin focusing their efforts inside the building. SMART is scheduled to vacate the bus barn behind the new station in February which will help in easing equipment congestion on the construction site. The project is still on schedule for a move-in date of early summer.

August 2012

Drive by the Elligsen Road station and you’ll notice that things are changing quickly at the new Station 56/South Operating Center. Crews have finished the foundation and are raising the walls. The firefighters who were based at the old Station 56 are responding to calls from their nearby temporary fire station located just blocks away. The project is on schedule and crews hope to be finished by summer of 2013.

May 2012

In April the old fire station and office space was decommissioned and torn down.  Firefighters have been moved off-site to a temporary fire station consisting of a manufactured home and two Quonset Huts located just blocks away at 8745 SW Sun Place.  The temporary station will house the engine and truck, allowing Station 56 to continue serving Wilsonville and the surrounding area, with similar response times.  Construction is expected to last approximately 14-16 months.  During construction SMART buses and city vehicles will continue to have access to the SMART/Fleet building.  While the District is committed to minimizing the impact on SMART operations through regular briefings, the construction process may pose delays at times.

Visit our Station 56/SOC Facebook Photo Album to see the construction photos.

January 2012

Temporary Fire Station: Site improvements began late December. The manufactured home and apparatus shelters are expected to be in place by mid-January. The crews are expected to move into the temporary station by mid-February.

New Fire Station 56 / South Operations Center: The District hopes to begin construction in February, pending receipt of permits from the City of Wilsonville.

December 2011

Because the current fire station and office space must be torn down to rebuild the new station, firefighters will be moved off-site during construction to a temporary station at
8745 SW Sun Place in Wilsonville. Site improvements are expected to begin following the issuance of a site permit in early/mid-December, with the crew moving into the temp station by late January or early February.

Construction is expected to begin in early 2012 and last approximately twelve to eighteen months. District officials have met with the adjacent motel management and mobile home park residents, as well as SMART officials to discuss the construction plans. Although the SMART buses and city vehicles will continue to have access to the SMART/Fleet building during construction, there may be delays at times. The Fire District is committed to not impacting SMART operations and recently met with SMART to discuss steps to minimizing the impact on day-to-day operations.

Smart Background: TVF&R purchased the SMART property from the City of Wilsonville in 2008 for $1.5 million and agreed to lease back the property to Wilsonville ($0 cost) for a limited duration while they obtained federal grant funding or alternative financing for its public works and SMART transportation. The initial 2 year period has expired. Wilsonville has exercised an option to extend the lease-back period for an additional 2 years. That additional lease back period expires in June of 2012.

February 2011

TVF&R has submitted its Land Use application for the new station/operating center to the City of Wilsonville. The District also continues to work with City officials on a temporary use permit for a temporary fire station should it be necessary during construction.

Location/Service Area

Fire Station 56 is located at the junction of Interstate 5 and Elligsen Road in north Wilsonville. The station serves a mix of commercial occupancies, single and multi-family housing, and wildland/urban interface.

Why rebuild the fire station?

Built in 1979, this building was formerly the headquarters of the Tualatin Rural Fire District. The combined fire station and office space has major structural and design deficiencies. Seismic concerns are significant and would require millions of dollars to address.

Project Description

Next to and within immediate access to Oregon’s most heavily-used freeway, the current site is ideal for locating a replacement fire station. Additionally, the facility will include office space for its South Operating Center. This center manages the operations for TVF&R Fire Stations 34, 52, 56, 57, 58, and 59 and the education, community services, prevention, and preparedness programs for the communities served by these stations.

Construction is currently under way.