Fireboat Station No. 35 Rising Above Water

Fireboat Station No. 35 is well underway at Pier 1 on Treasure Island, its temporary home during construction before it’s floated over and moored behind the historic Mediterranean-style fire station at Pier 22 ½ along San Francisco’s Embarcadero. The station is being constructed on a 165’ x 94’ floating barge to provide safe and immediate access to the fireboats, regardless of the city’s infamous earthquakes or potential sea-level rise due to global warming.

The San Francisco Department of Public Works deemed the fireboat station an essential facility, thereby the project team could continue working amid the shelter-in-place order. The crew quickly adapted to the new COVID-19 permit procedure for submitting Deferred Approvals to the Port of San Francisco, which is the project’s jurisdictional authority. Permits that were submitted electronically included metal stairs, exterior light gage framing, and buckling restrained braces.

The Swinerton crew has been busy with the project, taking advantage of a traffic-free commute and appreciating the sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay. Concrete was placed on Level 2 and the roof, and “fire engine red” concrete will be placed on the metal stairs. The crew is fervently framing the exterior the old-fashioned way, using string lines to flex with the ocean’s motion. The crew will work on sheathing, interior framing, and drywall next. MEPF crews have begun rough-in, and ironworkers have completed one set of metal stairs. Upcoming activities also include polishing concrete on Level 2, roofing, and exterior metal panels.