Rancho Cucamonga Fire District’s newest fire station opens

On Wednesday, Rancho Cucamonga Fire District staff and the City Council / Fire Board celebrated the opening of its latest fire station with a ceremonial ribbon cutting ceremony. Fire Station #178 is centrally located within the City of Rancho Cucamonga at 10595 Town Center Drive and Terra Vista Parkway. The station’s centralized location creates a natural hub for community services and connection.

Fire Station #178 was designed to better prepare the city for the transition to net zero energy, zero-emission vehicles, and continuous operation through emergencies such as power outages and natural disasters. The installation of a 250-panel photovoltaic solar system and accompanying battery storage allows Fire Station #178 to utilize renewable energy during normal operations and safely run off the grid for at least 24 hours during an emergency. In addition to reducing the station’s carbon footprint, this system will also significantly reduce energy costs.

Fire Station #178 is also home to North America’s third Rosenbauer RTX electric fire engine. The electric fire engine supports the City of Rancho Cucamonga’s efforts to be a sustainable community and prioritizes first responders’ health and safety. The Rosenbauer RTX is the first fire engine to incorporate an all-electric drivetrain that eliminates the engine, transmission, and drivelines typically found in a traditional apparatus. Rather, the Rosenbauer RTX has an electric drivetrain for near-silent operations during non-pumping activities and is supported by an energy backup system that can recharge batteries for extended operations, emergencies, and natural disaster response. In addition to the innovative electric technology, the Rosenbauer RTX will also be the first clean cab in the Fire District’s apparatus fleet, as firefighters’ turnout gear is stored in the outside compartments of the engine, reducing their exposure to carcinogens in the line of duty. The Rosenbauer RTX also incorporates ergonomic and tactical advantages for less physical strain on fire personnel and greater operational success.

The new station also houses a unique community amenity, the 24/7 Library Kiosk. The kiosk is a self-service library material dispensing machine that allows visitors to borrow materials 24 hours a day, seven days a week, using a Rancho Cucamonga Public Library card. Located within walking distance to several neighborhoods this kiosk allows community members to access library materials at their convenience. The kiosk holds a wide selection of materials for all ages, including captivating novels and blockbuster movies.

Planned for the southern portion of the fire station property, the 1.3-acre 9/11 Memorial Park is designed to incorporate steel from the World Trade Center and remnants from Flight 93 and the Pentagon. The park will provide space for the City of Rancho Cucamonga and surrounding communities across the Southern California region for reflection and remembrance that commemorate the events that took place on Sept. 11, 2001, as well as honor fallen service members.

The Rancho Cucamonga Fire District looks forward to welcoming the community to Fire Station #178, (10595 Town Center Dr.) at their annual open house planned for Oct. 12, 2024, Details on the upcoming open house will be available at RCFire.org.