Palm Desert Fire Stations Prepare For Next Big Quake

Earthquakes are making headlines this week, and the Coachella Valley is earthquake country.

Two Palm Desert fire stations are now part of CREWS — the Coachella Valley Regional Earthquake Warning System — designed to provide a quake warning of up to 35 seconds.

At fire stations, it would automatically open bay doors to keep fire equipment from getting trapped inside.

“If the building were to shift in any way, we’re not going to be able to open the doors to get our equipment out. At that point, we’d have to open them manually or we’d have to cut holes in the door, which would delay our response to the community,” said Battalion Chief Bill Hunley with Station 33 in Palm Desert.

Other fire stations in the valley are using quake guards. And the plan is to add the system to local schools.

“This is the first early warning system of its kind in the U.S. We’re hoping this is the model for the rest of California and any other place in the country that needs early earthquake warning,” said Gary Rosenblum, a risk manager for the city of Palm Desert.

But setting up a network — linking fire stations and schools — costs money. And funding has been the big problem.

Rosenblum says an initial startup will cost $500,000 with around $2 million more needed to link the units

“Here we are in the Coachella Valley, the Ground Zero for earthquakes. We can get an early warning system. It’s just a matter of the desire to fund it,” said Rosenblum.