Artist’s impression of the new fire station at Saba’s Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport.
SABA--A new fire station will be built at Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport in Saba. It is intended to replace the current Fire Station of the Caribbean Netherlands Fire Department BKCN in the airport terminal building. The construction work will start in the first week of April.
This project will be carried out by local contractor Saba Roads and Construction as commissioned by the Government Buildings Agency (“Rijksvastgoedbedrijf”) RVB, on behalf of the Ministry of Justice and Security and in consultation with the BKCN.
The new fire station will enable Saba’s firefighters to carry out their work more effectively. The current station at the airport is outdated and has limited facilities. For example, the air supply required when extinguishing fires can currently only be topped up at the fire station in The Bottom. The construction of the new fire station will change this, because it will be equipped with a separate air supply area. This can save much time in the event of an incident at the airport.
The fire station will also include two garages that will accommodate two fire engines, sports facilities, a staff canteen, various work and conference rooms and sufficient facilities to prepare and carry out exercises.
When designing the fire station much attention was paid not only to BKCN’s operational needs, but also to the building’s appearance. The fire brigade believes it is important for the fire station to blend into the island’s image. That is why the complex is partly being built against and in the rock face, so that it becomes part of the surrounding area.
A decision was taken, in close cooperation between architect Lyongo Juliana of OZ Caribbean, the fire brigade and the RVB, to use local rubble to create a link with the characteristic historical architecture and landscape.
The fire station’s construction has also been designed in such a way that it can withstand category-five hurricanes.
The new fire station is expected to be ready for use early 2022.
