The Hawaiʻi Fire Department would like to thank the community for their support and patience during the construction of the new facility.  The department will host a grand opening in December.

At an open house and ribbon-cutting event Tuesday evening, which also featured Halloween treats for visiting kids, the positive impact the new unmanned station has had in its brief history was a focal point, as was the continuing positive partnership between the full-time paid firefighters at the CFD and the paid/on-call firefighters who work with the Crookston Firefighters Association (CFA).

Local firefighters have long felt that a north-end presence of some sort was needed in Crookston, and that desire has only grown in recent years with the Crookston community’s growth to the north. So a couple years ago, when the former AutoGlass Specialists building on Sahlstrom Drive off University Avenue was made available for what was seen as a favorable $245,000 price, the CFA jumped at it and bought the building. After months of interior and exterior renovations and relocating various equipment, the north-end unmanned fire station as deemed operational in February of this year.

The bright pink fire truck rolled up in front of McNeal's house, lights and sirens blazing. Firefighters dressed in pink coats and hats came to her door with flowers. It was a celebration just for her, and she said it couldn't have come at better time.

McNeal is at home because she is fighting for her life. She is a breast cancer survivor, now fighting the disease for a second time with chemotherapy.

Her pep rally was organized by her care team at the Joan Katz Cancer Resource Center at Baylor Scott & White All Saints - Fort Worth. They invited the truck and crew from Pink Heals, an organization of volunteer first responders who make these kinds of stops across the country.

Some of the features include camera systems for backing and maneuvering the large apparatus, enhanced radio and communication systems which allow drivers to hear backing instructions from personnel outside of the vehicle, LED lighting that provides illumination and visibility for a safer working environment as well as lighting for emergency scene operations. Fire Chief Mike Youngblood said, "The City of Richmond is committed to improving measures that provide for a safer and efficient work environment for personnel while maintaining the primary goal of delivering quality service to all who live, work, shop, and travel within our response area.

Michelle Moore, communication specialist, for the city of Richmond, said the fire truck cost the city less than $700,000 and came in under budget.