The council, city officials and Dowell decided to alter the fire hall design in 2015 after the original round of bids featured estimated costs of $2.4 million and $2.5 million, which were about $1 million more expensive than the earliest estimated costs.

Dowell made several changes to the previously bid fire hall design that altered the fire hall to an 8,500-square-foot, two-bay station from an 11,000-square-foot, three-bay hall that was originally bid.

Dowell previously said the absence of a fire station near the area could be a reason it hasn’t seen much industrial and business growth, noting the area has a higher Insurance Services Office or ISO rating than the rest of the city.

This is the first major re-model for the Harker Heights Fire Department, which is nearly 32 years old, Sims said.

The renovations include adding onto the existing building to create a separate space for administration offices.

The current structure will continue to hold the firetrucks and EMS vehicles, Sims said.

It is also being re-modeled to hold private rooms, bathrooms and common spaces for the firefighters.

"This is their home for a third of their life, each and every shift, and when you take that into account, they need to have the space to do what they need to do, just as if they were at home, but be in a ready state of response,” Sims said.

Toward the back of the property, a separate building is being constructed into a gym and training facility for both firefighters and all city employees as well.

One firefighter and a woman in a car were taken to a hospital as a precaution following a collision between a Hamilton Fire Department engine and a car.

There was a small amount of damage to the right front bumper of the fire truck. The impact forced the car to land atop a fire hydrant.

“This is big for us and it will be a great addition,” Riga Township fire chief Mike Norman said when the new 3,000-gallon pumper/tanker truck was parked in front of the station.

The truck cost $277,000 and was made possible by the voter-approved fire equipment millage. It replaces an engine that was 25 years old.

Norman said the truck gives the department more capabilities for a variety of situations. He said one of the biggest advantages is the amount of water it can bring to the scene of a fire. Being a pumper/tanker allows it to carry a lot of water, but it also the ability to pump out a lot — 1,500 gallons per minute.

The White Lake Volunteer Fire Department recently purchased a 2006 mini-pumper truck to add to its fleet. The truck will service the Village of White Lake, Town of Evergreen and provide mutual aid to the Town of Wolf River.