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The Official City Newsletter for Arden Hills Residents July 2016 Lake Johanna Fire Station Number One to close Lake Johanna Fire Station Number One, located on New Brighton Road at Jerrold Avenue, figured promi- nently in the lives of the families in the sur- rounding neighborhoods during the 1950’s and 60’s. The noon whistle told the kids it was time to head home for lunch. The 9 p.m. siren was curfew and ended the games of Kick the Can and Starlight, Moonlight. On winter days, there was ice skating on the frozen pond behind the fire station; on summer patriotic holidays, Cub Scouts and Joy Shockley’s baton twirlers followed the fire engines in parades down Lake Johanna Boulevard. And of course, many of the neighborhood dads were the volunteer fire fighters who were summoned by the siren at various times of the day and night to rush off to a fire. That first Lake Johanna fire station opened in 1943, with one truck, after members of the Department sponsored numerous fund- raising activities to provide start-up capital for fire service to the community. Those same volunteers pitched in to do the actual construction as well. Over the years, a new larger station was built next to the original, and that building underwent reconstruction in 1988. Much has changed since the first station opened. The Lake Johanna Fire Department is now a private non-profit organization providing fire protection services to the Cities of Arden Hills, North Oaks, and Shoreview. The Department covers 36 square miles and protects a population of about 41,000 residents. Lake Johanna Fire Chief Tim Boehlke pointed out on a large map the area served by the department, which has changed over time, and the location of each of the fire stations. Given the larger service area, Station Number One is clearly no longer in a beneficial location, and the aging building is in need of many repairs. Thus it was decided last year to close this facility as soon as a buyer is found for the property, which is zoned residential. The closure will leave a de- partment consisting of three stations, 16 vehicles, four full-time staff members, and about 60 paid on-call fire fighters, who are trained in Hazardous-Materials Opera- tions and EMT, as well as Fire Fighting. Many members have training such as Water/ Ice Rescue, Haz-Mat Technician, Ropes and Confined Space. Twenty-four hour staffing began at two of the stations in July, 2015. According to Boehlke, the new staffing has improved the Department’s response time in emergencies of many kinds as well as structure fires. Chief Boehlke, a 31-year department veteran who grew up in the neighborhood, says he is not taking the closing lightly and recognizes the history in the building. How- ever, with 24-hour staffing, professional training, and increasing cooperation with other fire departments in the area, Boehlke says, “The service in Arden Hills has never been better, and closing this station is not going to change that.” by Susan Cathey Lake Johanna Fire Station Number One Pictures: Below: Chief Boehlke Bottom right: First Station One, 1943 Bottom left: New fire truck, early 1960s