Lovington Fire Station #2

Desert Peak Architects collaborated with the City of Lovington, New Mexico, to design the city’s inaugural Fire Sub-Station, strategically located on 17th Street, approximately 1.3 miles north of US 82. This site was selected for its advantageous proximity to a future Truck Bypass Route, enhancing access for emergency services.

Fire Station #2 encompasses 9,878 square feet and is designed to accommodate various emergency response vehicles, including a ladder truck, an engine (pumper), a brush truck, and two EMS vehicles. The facility features a four-bay apparatus garage, which includes a specialized EMS bay equipped with a Supply Room housing drug vending machines to streamline inventory control and access. To promote safety, the turnout area is integrated within the bays, preventing firefighters from tracking carcinogens into the living quarters.

The station’s living facilities are thoughtfully designed to enhance both functionality and comfort. They include four single-occupancy dorm rooms, an open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area, as well as an exercise room and a domestic laundry. A dedicated training room and a Chief’s office are conveniently located off the entry lobby, facilitating efficient operations.

The site layout is designed to separate public parking from employee parking, with the latter secured at the rear of the building. The driveways and site paving are configured to allow for a pull-through design, minimizing the need for emergency vehicles to reverse into traffic. This necessitated a larger wrap-around drive and a bypass route, which also provides access to a future water tower location.

Additional features of the facility include an emergency generator, a trash enclosure, a recreational yard, and low-maintenance landscaping for the front and side yards. The Lovington Fire Sub-Station exemplifies a modern approach to emergency services, prioritizing safety, efficiency, and community engagement while providing essential facilities for the city’s firefighters.