By Heather Kfoury
The Houston Chronicle
KLEIN, Texas — The Klein community has a new fire station at 8230 Boudreaux Road.
The technologically advanced center is serving the surrounding area and is reducing property insurance rates within 55 square miles.
When the Klein Volunteer Fire Department was looking to replace Station 35 at Dowdell Road near Kuykendahl Road, it had future expansion in mind. The old station could no longer accommodate larger trucks and the more than 120 volunteer firefighters. The bigger and more modern Station No. 5 was completed just in time for the new year and is designed for the growing Klein area.
While the old fire station had two garage bays barely tall enough to house new fire trucks, Station No. 5 was built taller with more garage space. The new building includes shower facilities, laundry room, kitchenette, day room, second-floor training area and additional storage.
“The new fire station will give volunteers the room they need to operate more efficiently,” Klein Fire Chief David Bessolo said.
“With an increasing number of volunteers, Station 35 no longer had enough room to meet and train as a group. And with fire trucks getting larger, their apparatus bareley fit in the old building.”
The new building will give us much needed room to expand.”
Taxes from the Harris County Emergency Services District 16 is the principal funding source for Klein’s fire department. Station No. 5 is the third Klein fire station that District 16 has relocated, and two more are in the planning stages.
Another feature at the new station is a communications tower and backup generator in case of natural disasters. The station’s “rehab truck” provides drinking water, ice, food and an enclosed air-conditioned or heated area to tired firefighters working to extinguish blazes.
“Station 5 is state-of-the-art,” said Herb Marker, District 16’s treasurer. “Based on what we have learned in building four other stations, the bays and equipment rooms are better laid out.
“They have a training room and kitchens and lounges for down time, which can also be used during hurricanes or terror threats. It is more strategically located in our district for quicker fire response time, and its location and facilities should help us recruit more volunteers.”
Because of the expansion, upgraded facilities, number of trained fire personnel and quality of equipment in use, the Klein department has attained a top insurance rating given to 7 percent of all Texas fire departments. This insurance rate provides a basis for reduced property insurance rates within a 55-square-mile area served by the Klein fire department.
“These are all of very modern design and highly functional. The station provides for a paid day crew should future needs dictate. Klein presently has three day crews supplementing its some 120 volunteers,” District 16 Commissioner Bert Tandy said.
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