It's bigger than we need today, but it will be where we need in five, 10, 15 years, said Captain Robert Rutten. For much of his career, Rutten ran calls out of the old Glenmont fire station.Built during the 1950s, it was cramped and crumbling.You know, th
"You know, they just couldn't imagine the growth of Glenmont back then," Rutten said.
This new structure — a firehouse Taj Mahal — is a monumental improvement.
"It's just fantastic."
Yellow switches will allow crews to control traffic at the often congested corner of Georgia Avenue and Randolph Road, while digital timers will help them keep track of that precious response time.
Amenity-wise, the new firehouse boasts a T.V. lounge with ten heavenly leather recliners, an oversized kitchen with stainless steel appliances and an outdoor patio.
There's also a professional gym with treadmills, weights and a jacobs ladder cardio machine.
Fire Chief Scott Goldstein says in the last eight years, Montgomery County has built and remodeled seven fire houses, plus a robust training academy.
Goldstein contends the $14 million cost is the cost of of keeping a budding population safe.
"As this community, which has around 55,000 residents, accounts for over 5,000 emergency calls today, continues to grow, we need the capacity to grow," Goldstein said.