Firefighters, local leaders and community members gathered at Heber’s new and expanded fire station, the Claude R. and June M. Hicken Fire Station 51.
Guests explored the facilities and cheered as, instead of cutting a ribbon, Fire Chief Eric Hales decoupled two fire hoses.
Hales said the new station, near Wasatch High School on 1200 South, marks a milestone in the fire district’s history.
“It’s especially meaningful to reflect on the fact that, 100 years ago, members of this valley came together to establish the original Heber Valley Fire Department,” he said. “Today, we stand on their shoulders.”
The station was constructed by Big-D Signature, a KPCW financial supporter, and designed by AJC Architects. It more than triples the previous Heber station’s square footage and houses the fire district’s administrative offices.
It also includes dorm rooms for first responders to rest during their 48-hour shifts, a day room with recliners and a kitchen space, and a community room for classes and meetings. One station hallway is adorned with photos from throughout the department’s history.
The station is named after a Heber family who long farmed on the site. June Hicken said her family didn’t want to see high-density development on their land.
At first, she and her late husband didn’t want their names on the building, either, but former Fire Chief Ernie Giles had other ideas.
“I didn’t follow through and realize that it was even here, until I came to Heber one time and my kid says, ‘You gotta drive past the fire station. Your name’s up there,’” Hicken said. “And it’s like, oh, Claude’s gonna roll over in his grave. And then the more I thought about it, how many women have a fire station? So it really makes me smile when I go past and see that name.”
Wasatch Fire Captain Brady Draper said he’s excited for how the new facilities will enhance firefighter training and provide space for the department to grow.
“In the last five years, just for myself, I’ve seen a huge growth in our department, in our training and our qualifications, so this is just going to help push us into the next level,” he said.
The new station is part of the fire district’s larger effort to meet the needs of a rapidly growing county with expanded staffing and added facilities.
Eight people will be on duty around the clock at Station 51.
The Wasatch Fire District plans to add four more stations in the coming years. That includes a permanent station to replace the temporary facility in Hideout, plus stations in north Heber, along state Route 32 near Benloch Ranch, and east of Heber near the Timber Lakes area.
