Augusta Fire Fighters are looking to have “shovels in the ground” in two weeks time for the new Station #1.
The new fire hall will be located on the same property as the current station on 19 Church Street in Maitland.
Last night the fire department had a ground-breaking ceremony for Station #1 that saw Augusta Fire Chief, Rob Bowman, Deputy Mayor Bill Buckler and Mayor Doug Malanka addressing both current and past fire fighters, their families and members of the public.
Malanka is excited about this station and says it would’ve been delayed even more if it hadn’t reached the point that they’re at now, as this is an election year.
Bowman talked about how this has been two years in the making and thanked the Advisory Committee who put in a lot of hours working on this project.
The Advisory Committee is made up of firefighters: Kevin Spicer (Chairman of the Committee), Deputy Chief Chad Davis, Captains Darryn Fitzpatrick, Jeff Sloan, Jeff Stewart, Richard Malanka and Paul Arkeveld.
Bowman says the new station will be around 14,000 square feet and will have much more storage. Station #1 will have space for six vehicles and have a bigger training room. The Augusta Firefighters Association approved the purchase of upwards of 1,000 dollars in equipment for a new gym. Bowman notes the money for the equipment was 100-percent raised by the Association.
Another feature the new fire station will have are showers. Bowman says they don’t have any at the current station. He explains the chemicals and other leftovers from fires that can get on a firefighter, have been proven to cause cancer and firefighters need to get that off as soon as possible instead of having to go back home to shower.
There will also be a proper room for their self-contained breathing apparatus in the new fire hall.
There are trees on the current site that have been dedicated to people. Bowman says they looked into somehow getting small saplings from the current trees and re-planting or moving them but unfortunately neither can be done. New trees will be planted for any trees, including the ones that have been dedicated to someone, that need to be cut down.