Instead of the $4 million to $5 million estimated cost when planning began for the replacement station, new projections for the 19,500-square-foot structure are just over $8 million, which includes construction, land and furnishings.

“We need to put this under a microscope and figure out a way to get costs down," said Trustee Steve Schramm.

The township closed this week on a 5-acre site on Princeton Road, near its intersection with Cincinnati-Dayton Road, for the new station. The purchase price was $550,000.

The Fire Protection Services Program increased fire insurance premiums for revenues that may be used for training expenses of firefighters and to purchase, improve, or buy firefighting equipment in compliance with the National Fire Protection Association standards.

The Weiner Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department currently has two pumper tankers, two engine trucks, a rescue truck and SUV Gator.

The facility is designed to withstand high level storms and provide a safe haven for personnel.  

A fueling station at the back of the property will be incorporated into daily operations.

Family history is the reason their Facebook profile image includes a historical photo of the department. The photo taken in the 1950s has three engines and a handful of firefighters and their gear. It is this photo that helped bring home one of the department's most significant pieces of history.

“Our Facebook page photo with the original engine and several firemen was tagged," Mike said. "One afternoon I received a message tagging the truck to a truck being stored in Illinois. As I looked into it, I realized the truck that had been tagged was the truck from our picture.”

In the first crash a driver veered off the road and struck a power pole and reported the sun was in his or her eyes.

Emergency crews  parked fire truck near the scene of that crash to warn other drivers, but another driver slammed into the back of the fire truck.

That driver also blamed the sunlight.There were no serious injuries in connection with either crash.