Construction crews working on the new Fire Station No. 4 completed the foundation and infrastructure, and are now installing the frame, landscaping features and other details.
The 1.9-acre facility is located at 800 Metker St. near Toler Lane. An interesting design element of the new station is the position of the bathrooms and showers. Architects specifically placed the facilities between the apparatus bay and living quarters to keep equipment, used in the field, out of the station’s common areas. This helps mitigate fire crews’ exposure to harmful carcinogens when they are not responding to an emergency.
“Whether or not they’re fighting a fire, the safety and well-being of our firefighters is always a top priority,” said City Manager Chris Hillman.
The new station will replace the existing Fire Station No. 4 that opened in September 1960. Fire officials say they have outgrown the space. The apparatus bay in the current station is too small for the equipment used today. The new station will have a larger bay and more spacious living and sleeping quarters. The department also chose a new location for Station No. 4, which officials say will improve response times to the area the station serves.
“The city has different needs now than when the original station was built. We’ll now have a stronger department and a better-protected community,” said Mayor Rick Stopfer.
The more than 8,000 square-foot station will house five firefighters: Three on a pumper engine and two on an ambulance.
The Fire Department hopes to welcome the first shift of personnel later this year.
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