AMY NILE – Billings Gazette, Mont.
The city of Billings plans to complete a $500,000 renovation project at Fire Station 5 on the West End this year.
The Billings Fire Department has been awarded a $280,000 grant to help cover the cost of the work.
The department is among 100 organizations nationwide that were selected from more than 4,000 applicants to receive the money as part of Lowe’s Hometowns, a program that aims to restore community spaces across the country.
The city will provide an additional $214,000 for upgrades to Fire Station 5 on South 24th Street West, across from the West End Walmart. The money will be used to replace failing infrastructure and remodel the interior of the station, which was built in 1973.
Firefighters face significant health risks due to the demands of their work, which are exacerbated by the 6,016-square-foot station’s outdated layout, according to Billings Facilities Specialist Tricia Mae.
Firefighters respond to a variety of types of calls from the station, which houses both an engine company and a mobile response squad.
The building currently has one large, shared sleeping area. The setup causes frequent disruptions to firefighters’ rest, which increases risks of exhaustion, fatigue, cognitive impairment, mental strain and other serious health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease.
Inadequate rest also elevates rates of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. Firefighters, who are exposed to trauma and chronic stress, are already statistically more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty.
The station currently has only one shower, which fails to provide adequate privacy, inclusivity or efficiency, Mae said. The tiles in it are now deteriorating, which creates sanitation issues.
The station also lacks adequate decontamination facilities, which contributes to increased exposure to harmful toxins and raises long-term cancer risks.
The upgrades will include three separate bedrooms to help provide uninterrupted rest for non-responding crew members. The single shower space will be replaced with three private restrooms.
The work will also improve decontamination facilities, including a new shower bank to allow crews faster access to toxin removal.
The project is expected to be complete in mid-November.
Mae said the upgrades will help improve health and working conditions for firefighters and ensure a more effective emergency response system that the community can rely on.
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