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Press release from the Arcata Volunteer Firefighters’ Association:

The Arcata Volunteer Firefighters’ Association (AVFA) is pleased to announce the sale of its Arcata Downtown Fire Station, located at 631 9th Street, to the Arcata Fire Protection District (AFPD), a public agency that has provided essential fire protection and emergency services to the community since 1944. This significant transaction marks the next chapter in the fire station’s history, which has long served as a cornerstone of Arcata’s emergency response infrastructure. The AFPD has been renting the 9th Street station from the Association since the 1970s and occupying it with career firefighters since 2012.

After Arcata experienced several devastating fires, on January 24, 1884, the Arcata Fire Company #1 was established. Between 1884 and 1923 fire suppression equipment was stored at various rented spaces around the east side of the Arcata Plaza. On September 21, 1923, Chief Mathews and Secretary Stromberg were authorized to purchase the property at the corner of 9th Street and F Street on behalf of the Arcata Volunteer Fire Department. The property included Excelsior Hall, which later became Firemen’s Hall.

Fireman’s Hall served as a major social and athletic venue for the residents of Arcata and office space for the Volunteer Fire Department until it experienced a major fire on July 30, 1945, and was demolished. Fireman’s Hall was replaced with a new fire station in 1949. The building was able to house six vehicles and a few small offices. Prior to that, the fire engines were housed at the Old City Hall on the northeast corner of 9th and G Streets.

Arcata Volunteer Fire Department, October 1950, prior to addition of the two-story dining room and upstairs clubroom. | Submitted.

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In 1956 the Arcata Station was expanded to include a dining room/classroom, living quarters and a 2nd story fireman’s clubroom. The apparatus bays were expanded in 1963 to allow for longer vehicles. In 1990, the building was seismically upgraded and two of the apparatus bays were converted into additional offices and a conference room.

In the 1990s the Arcata Volunteer Firefighters’ Association started fundraising efforts to either remodel or replace the 9th Street station. As the need for fire department services was increasing, management of the fire department transitioned to the Arcata Fire Protection District and the Arcata Volunteer Firefighters’ Association asssumed a supportive role for the Fire District. In 2015, thanks to fundraising efforts by the Arcata Volunteer Firefighters’ Association and the generous support of the Orvamae Emmerson Endowment, the Lucchesi Family, the Rotary Club of Arcata, and many public donations, enough funds were raised to completely remodel and expand the 9th Street station.

At the request of the Arcata Fire Protection District, the Arcata Volunteer Firefighters’’ Association obtained additional financing to remodel the McKinleyville fire station owned by the Arcata Fire Protection District. The Arcata Volunteer Firefighters’ Association agreed to use the rent collected from the Arcata Fire Protection District’s use of the 9th street fire station to service the new debt.

In 2021 the Arcata Volunteer Firefighters’ Association started the process of transferring ownership of the 9 th Street Arcata fire station to the Arcata Fire Protection District. This would allow the Arcata Volunteer Firefighters’ Association to retire the additional debt incurred by the remodel of the District owned McKinleyville fire station. After 100 years of Arcata Volunteer Firefighters’ ownership, on December 17, 2024, the 9th Street Station was sold to the Arcata Fire Protection District.

Roy Willis, President
Arcata Volunteer Firefighter’s AssociationZ
avfa.pres@arcatafire.org