Fire Station 9 To Receive Generous Renovations

It was a few years back, after the Witch Creek fires of 2007, that Sally Ricchiuti visited Fire Station 9 with her children to express her appreciation for the firefighters and were surprised by what she saw.

Ricchiuti remembers thinking, “There is a reason why I was brought to this particular station. I was so saddened to see the quarters that they were forced to recuperate in."

Ricchiuti realize that day the need for renovations and updates at Station 9 on Ardath Lane and Torrey Pines Road.

The first step to the update is the remodeling of the firefighters dorm area. This will be the main focus since right now the area is not segregated male versus female and is in need of “personalization,” Ricchiuti said.

Many firefighters sleep in the dorms and essentially live at the station for periods of time, according to SD Fire Chief Javier Mainar. There are between four to six firefighters residing at the station at a time.

It’s Ricchiuti’s vision that the firefighters will be able to, “walk in the door and feel good about where they are, since this is their home away from home,” she said.

Along with revamping the dorm areas, other renovations will include: painting, new flooring, and renovations to the kitchen and bathroom. And eventually down the road, the Ricchiutis would like to re-landscape the entire station.

The firefighters are appreciative of the donated renovations, Mainar said.

“I’m amazed people in the community want to help us with these things, it’s a lot of work and we are so pleased Sally is taking this on,” Mainar said.

Ricchiuti said it is, "time for the community to come to rescue of those who protect us and provide them with the station we need and they deserve."

Remembrance of the 10th year anniversary of 9/11 and fundraiser for Station 9 will be held Saturday, Sept. 10. The Kind to Nine Fundraiser will honor all the individuals including the fire fighters, military personnel and others who serve our country, Ricchiuti said. 

“It will be an evening of remembrance, remembering that we live in the greatest country in the world,” she said.

The event will be at the from 6 to 10 p.m. and will include live music and a speech from the Fire Chief. For more information or to donate visist kindtonine.org.

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