EDITORIAL:Fired up about Santa Ana Heights

In and of itself, shoveling dirt around isn’t a big cause for excitement. But what that activity signified earlier this month was worth getting fired up about ? in Santa Ana Heights and Newport Beach.

Last Friday, Newport Beach city officials performed the customary ceremonial “ground-breaking” for a new fire station in Santa Ana Heights, one that will be an immediate and long-term boon for the city.

The immediate benefit will come as soon as a $700,000 training tower is completed. It will allow Newport firefighters to practice their craft within the city limits ? and therefore within quick call of an emergency. Right now, they have to go all the way to Huntington Beach, pulling them too far away from the city to be of much use if a fire or other need arises.

The longer-term benefit will come after the $11.5-million station is completed, which is expected to be finished in about a year. At that point, residents of Santa Ana Heights and neighboring parts of town will be that much easier for firefighters to reach. And, while it isn’t a huge immediate improvement in response time right now ? Newport Beach Fire Chief Tim Riley told the Pilot it will slightly improve it ? the big change will be after development in the John Wayne Airport area happens. At that point, the new station will be crucial. City residents are fortunate that Santa Ana Heights ? the money for the station is coming from the community’s redevelopment funds ? had a reserve of dollars capable of paying for this work.

The construction also is a concrete example of why Santa Ana Heights residents are fortunate to be in Newport Beach: Improvements such as the fire station get done. The only major work finished before with redevelopment agency money has been the widening of Mesa Drive and Birch Street.

Not that easing traffic isn’t a noble cause, but a new fire station certainly seems like an excellent use of money.