Westside fire station opened Monday

The Maricopa Fire Department opened a new $2.5-million station Monday in the central business district, replacing the current temporary station on Garvey Avenue, to serve Cobblestone Farms, parts of Rancho El Dorado and areas west on State Route 238.

The Donald N. Pearce Fire Station No. 575 at 45695 W. Edison Road, west of John Wayne Parkway, is the latest addition to Maricopa Fire Department’s four-station force. Fire administration will remain at 44624 W. Garvey Avenue.

MFD spokesman Brad Pitassi said the new station was designed to look like a classic fire station with an “old school” red-brick look to connect it to Maricopa’s past.

“It’s going to be a community fire station,” he said. “There is a section of the station dedicated to community use, like a conference room, and areas where groups in the community can gather.”

Pitassi said the new building has gone through an “expensive and rigorous” certification process through the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, or LEED, program through the United States Green Building Council, meaning the new station was designed and built to be energy efficient through rooftop solar panels, sockets and lights, and its plumbing systems.

The new station was designed by HDA Architects and built by FCI Construction.

MFD Chief Wade Brannon said the new station will be named after retired Chief Donald N. Pearce. Pearce is one of the founding members of the Maricopa Fire District and the chief of the volunteer firefighters in Maricopa 1978 to 2003.