The old headquarters building was built in 1961 with a price tag of about $38,000, said Opelika Fire Chief Byron Prather, and the need for a new, larger facility was becoming apparent with insufficient space and plumbing issues among other problems.
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“We had a lot of plumbing issues at the other station. After about four firefighters got a shower, the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth one; they just about had to stand on concrete blocks because the water was slowly backing up,” Prather said. “The old station was just worn out altogether.”
The new station one – valued at about $3 million – is larger with upgraded amenities and features, including better plumbing.