Riverside County (Calif.) Fire has broken ground on its La Quinta Fire Station No. 32. Expected to be completed in fall 2010, the $6.8 million project incorporates a 7,200-square-foot fire station and improvements to the neighboring City Corporate Yard, where public-works equipment is parked.

Featuring state-of-the-art technology and energy-efficient systems, the new fire station meets the ongoing needs of firefighters but also fits into the character of the Spanish Colonial-themed La Quinta Village area, said Wayne Holtan, AIA, principal at Domusstudio Architecture.

Among the unique design features incorporated into the new fire station are bifold doors instead of the more traditional roll-up doors.

La Quinta Fire Station No. 32 also will feature sustainable elements, including photovoltaic solar panels in compliance with California Energy Code, insulated skylights that further reduce energy use, low-water-use landscaping, and recycled building materials.

State-of -the-art features at the new station include an exhaust gas capture system that removes cancer-causing vehicle emissions and vents them directly outside the building and a high-performance commercial “extractor” washing machine that removes poisons and carcinogens from firefighters’ protective clothing.