The Porterville Fire Station is embracing its nearly century-old roots with a spiffy art deco facelift, putting a hopeful cap to one of the most challenging years in the department's long history.
"Tradition in the fire service is a big thing. Each department has its own unique history and story to tell," Chief Dave LaPere said. "We made a decision one year ago to honor the department's history while looking toward the future and embracing new technology."
The Porterville Fire Department's history began in 1936. The station, located on Cleveland Avenue in downtown Porterville, is one of the Central Valley's oldest fire houses.
LaPere felt it important to nod toward the station's art deco architectural style for its first paint job in more than 30 years — when LaPere first joined the department as a 22-year-old rookie.