Ceremonial shovels with golden blades turned over the first spades of dirt to mark the groundbreaking of Fire Station 150 on Golden Valley Road in Santa Clarita.

This is $12.5 million dollar project is the fourth of six new fire stations to be completed in the Santa Clarita Valley and will be located across the street from the Canyon Country Target shopping center.

“The six new stations we’ve been talking about. The goal is to have them all up and operating by 2012. That’s the goal,” said Fifth District Supervisor Michael Antonovich said.

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Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl L. Osby said new stations are needed to handle the tremendous growth in the region.

“Upon the completion of the six new stations being planned, we’ll have 15 stations in this regional area to provide excellent services to the citizens of Santa Clarita and Los Angeles County,” Osby said.

The 20,000 square foot station, which will also serve as division and battalion headquarters, is designed to include a three-bay apparatus room, a main office, a training room, a day room, a kitchen, an exercise room, plus12 dormitory rooms to accommodate the assistant chief, battalion officers and firefighters.

The station will also provide an opportunity for community outreach and education.

“It’s going to be an opportunity for school children of our private and public schools to see what real first responders do. And perhaps encourage them to be future fire fighters,” Antonovich said.

In 2006, Los Angeles County Fire Department officials, in cooperation with the City of Santa Clarita, commissioned a study to assess the needs of fire and emergency medical services.

A task force comprised of Fire Department personnel and city staff was subsequently formed, supporting future construction and development of six new fire stations for the Santa Clarita Valley.

Santa Clarita Mayor Marsha McLean thanked the firefighters for their heroic efforts over the past years and into the future.

“The fact that this is one of six stations which will be completed in the next couple of years is nothing short of remarkable. It is a testament to the dedication the Los Angeles County Fire Department has shown to this community, valuing our needs and being a tremendous champion of public safety in the Santa Clarita Valley,” said Mayor McLean.