Chattanooga, TN—The Chattanooga (TN) Fire Department recently officially opened its newest fire station in Highland Park.
Chattanooga Fire Station No. 5 is located on property adjacent to the former Station No. 5 on South Willow Street and is energy-efficient yet large enough to accommodate the department’s new larger fire apparatus.
“This building has many energy-saving features but is still large enough to accommodate our larger fire apparatus,” Chief Phil Hyman said. “We worked with the Highland Park community to keep two apparatus at this station at their request.”
The fire department worked with the Maclellan Foundation, which is planning to repurpose the old station into a community center for La Paz.
“The men and women who serve in the Chattanooga Fire Department have an incredibly demanding job,” Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke said. “This new facility provides them with space for their equipment and was also built with the community and environment in mind.”
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) was developed by the U.S. Building Council to establish standards for environmentally sustainable construction. Hyman said the one-story, 8,000-square-foot structure will house up to 10 firefighters per shift assigned to two fire apparatus, Engine 5 and Ladder 5.
“The Chattanooga Department of Public Works has been thrilled to work with the Chattanooga Fire Department to manage the construction of the new Fire Station No. 5,” said Justin Holland, Administrator of the Chattanooga Department of Public Works. “Fire Station No. 5 is also home to three examples of green infrastructure, making this building more modern and environmentally friendly. It makes sense that these firefighters who work so hard to protect their communities would have a facility that protects Chattanooga's waterways, wildlife, and people.”
Firefighters have been working out of the station for several months while construction around it was completed earlier this month.
The new station cost approximately $1.6 million and was designed by Franklin Architects and has a more neighborhood-friendly design similar to the surrounding residential aesthetic. The station was constructed by Constructed Consultants, Inc.
Station 5 Facts
- Two-vehicle apparatus bay, five sleeping rooms, showers, and locker rooms.
- One bay will house a 109-foot ladder carrying 1,200 feet of supply line, a full complement of ground ladders, a 109-foot aerial ladder, and several hundred feet of fire attack lines, nozzles, hose couplings and related equipment. It also carries 500 gallons of water.
- The second bay houses a pumper, which has a 1,500-gpm pump, 1,200 feet of supply line, and a variety of firefighting tools.
- Staffing will continue with up to 30 firefighters, with 10 working each of the 3 shifts. Station 5 will primarily serve the Highland Park community but will also respond to other parts of the city when needed.
Green Infrastructure
- Street trees and other trees planted on these grounds will reduce the urban heat island effect, cooling off this neighborhood and cleaning air pollution.
- Pervious pavers over in the parking lot allow rainwater to soak through to the earth beneath which