New Taipei Fire Station Yuanshan Branch Proposed Relocation: Village Chief Worried About Traffic Impact at Designated Site

The current facilities of the Yuanshan Fire Station of the New Taipei City Fire Department are insufficient, prompting a proposal for relocation. However, village chiefs have raised concerns that the designated site is located in a narrow alley, making access difficult and potentially worsening traffic conditions. The New Taipei Fire Department stated today that this location is just one of several options and will be assessed along with other feedback.

During an inspection by the Interior Committee of the Legislative Yuan in Zhonghe District, New Taipei City, officials and legislators discussed issues such as the lack of space at the Yuanshan Fire Station and the improvement project for the pavement on Jing'an Road. The briefing indicated that the Yuanshan Fire Station, located on Zhongzheng Road, faces a huge demand for disaster relief due to the numerous factories and office buildings in the vicinity. However, the current facilities are severely cramped, with 26 firefighters sharing only seven dormitories. The building is also reportedly constructed with sea-sand concrete and has insufficient structural strength to support specialized vehicles like ladder trucks and water tankers, making it difficult to meet rescue demands.

The briefing proposed that the Yuanshan branch seek reconstruction at a different location, planning to move to Alley 466, Yuanshan Road, with a land area of approximately 1,329 square meters. This plan has been approved for rezoning to institutional land and was submitted to the Ministry of Interior's plenary session in December last year. If approved after review, it will be subject to public exhibition, and if there are no objections, it can be implemented.

Legislator Chang Chih-lun revealed that even before he was elected, he was invited to visit the firefighters' dormitory and felt deeply distressed seeing the crowded and uncomfortable conditions. The short-term solution is to coordinate with the adjacent police command building to release some space for firefighters to use. The long-term solution is to find a new site, potentially for combined police and fire dormitories, hoping to incorporate local opinions and for central and local governments to work together to solve the problem.

Councilors Chang Chia-ling and Yuanshan Village Chief Lan Kuo-chung reported that the proposed relocation site is within an alleyway with narrow roads. Even on normal days, vehicles turning from the alley onto Yuanshan Road get stuck at the intersection, causing long queues during rush hour. They expressed concern that the future access of fire trucks would further exacerbate local traffic issues.

Councilor Chang Wei-chian commented that the proposed site is situated within an alley, making it difficult for fire trucks to enter and exit. It is also adjacent to residential areas, and there are differing opinions on whether it is suitable for a fire station. Further communication with the local community is required, and changes should not be made rashly.

The New Taipei City Fire Department stated that this proposed site is merely one option. Preliminary on-site inspections were conducted today with relevant units to understand the surrounding environment and residents' opinions. Subsequent assessments will incorporate various viewpoints. (Editor: Guan Zhongwei) 1150420

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