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And then there was one. But it’s a significant one — the first holiday open house to be held at the newly completed Fire Station 7 in Woodside.
For many years the Woodside Fire Protection District simultaneously hosted three holiday open houses at its Woodside, Portola Valley and Redwood City stations. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted that tradition, and now Santa will only be arriving at the Woodside station on Wednesday, Dec. 18, and listen to gift requests while posing for free photos from 6-7:30 p.m.
Station 7 looks ready for the party, decorated with outdoor lights trimming the roofline and decked out with the same festive hand-painted wooden cutouts that former firefighters made back in the day.
Hot chocolate and cookies will be served at the new facility which is nearly twice the size of the old building that was torn down in 2022.
The new facility’s larger space houses a Battalion 2 Command Vehicle, an Engine 7 Perce Type 1 Engine, and a Rescue 7 Seagrave.
This season everyone is encouraged to bring new unwrapped toys to donate to the firefighters’ annual toy drive. Later on, the firefighters will deliver the toys to children in the area.
Collection bins are posted outside all three stations: Station 7 at 3111 Woodside Road in Woodside, Station 8 at 135 Portola Road in Portola Valley, and Station 19 at 4091 Jefferson Avenue in Redwood City.
Next year marks the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the fire district. The district serves the communities of Woodside, Portola Valley, Emerald Hills, Ladera, Los Trancos, Skyline and Vista Verde. Formal tours of the facility until the anniversary celebration next year.
Editor’s note: This story was updated to indicate that formal tours of the facility won’t begin until next year.
