The Summerdale (AL) Volunteer Fire Department held a grand opening ceremony March 22 for its newest fire station; it is the town’s second station. The 16,000-square-foot building cost nearly $5 million (final costs are still being calculated).
The event, which was open to the public, included local officials, department volunteers and their families.
The Town of Summerdale launched the project in 2020 to create a facility to meet the growth demands of the town and the VFD.
The grand opening/open house was open to the public.
According to Assistant Chief Christopher McCain, the growth throughout Baldwin County and, specifically, the Summerdale fire jurisdiction, made it clear that “we would need to increase our capabilities.”
The town and the fire tax provided the funding for the new station, McCain says.
The location of the new station was chosen because it sits between two major thoroughfares (State Highway 59 and Baldwin Beach Express). The station sits on County Road 32, a major east-west roadway.
The station, designed by Walcott Adams Verneuille Architects and built by TerMac Construction, features five drive-through bays and has an open floor design for the kitchen, dining area, and day room. There are five separate bunk rooms with bunk beds for 10 volunteers to stay overnight. Administrative offices for the chiefs and a secretary are located at the front of the building.
“We wanted an area that could be used for training,” McCain says, “so we have a large training room.”
The station has a decontamination room located away from the living quarters to keep cancer-causing agents on gear separated from where the volunteers socialize. The decon room has a shower and will soon have an extractor and dryer (both are on the way) for cleaning gear. This area has its own HVAC system to keep contaminants from entering the clean areas of the building.
There are private bathrooms for the members in the living quarters and public bathrooms near the training room.
The department took delivery recently of a 2025 E-ONE rescue-pumper and showed it off at the grand opening/open house.
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Posted: Apr 3, 2025
The Milwaukee Fire Department Truck 5 Captain Dan Zidek gives the history of Station 27 on Milwaukee’s East Side in a Featured Firehouse Friday, the department said in a social media post recently.
This year marks 150 years of service for the Milwaukee Fire Department. Throughout the year, the department has shared stories on its Facebook page about its rich history. The department looks back at momentous events that made a lasting impact on the way it serves the community.
Go to the Milwaukee Fire Department Facebook page for stories about MFD’s 150 years of history.
The post WATCH | Featured Firehouse: Milwaukee (WI) FD Station 27 appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.
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Posted: Apr 2, 2025
MSA Safety has teamed up with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) once again to give away four MSA Cairns® 1836 Fire Helmets in 2025. The first entry period is now open! NVFC members have until April 30 to enter for the chance to receive a helmet. Additional entry periods will be held in June, August, and November.
The MSA Cairns® 1836 Fire Helmet showcases the iconic traditional design with innovative features that address today’s fire service needs. It is lightweight, comfortable, and features a low ride height and Defender Visor that adjusts in and out to fit a range of face sizes and shapes or over eyewear.
To be eligible, entrants must be an active volunteer firefighter in the U.S. and an NVFC member. Not a member? Join the NVFC at www.nvfc.org/join. Only one entry is allowed per member per entry period. A recipient will be randomly selected after each entry period from all the eligible entries.
Learn more and enter for your chance to win a MSA Cairns® 1836 Fire Helmet at www.nvfc.org/helmet.
About MSA
MSA Safety Inc. (NYSE: MSA) is the global leader in advanced safety products, technologies, and solutions. Our core fire service products include the revolutionary MSA G1 SCBA at the center of the Connected Firefighter Platform, FireGrid™ software, LUNAR® Connected Device, Cairns® fire helmets, ALTAIR® portable gas detection instruments, and Globe Manufacturing Company turnout gear and boots. For more information, visit MSAfire.com.
About the NVFC
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services. The NVFC serves as the voice of the volunteer in the national arena and provides critical resources, programs, education, and advocacy for first responders across the nation. Learn more at http://www.nvfc.org/.
The post Four Chances to Win MSA Cairns® 1836 Fire Helmet in 2025 appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.
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Posted: Apr 2, 2025
Check out Melbourne Fire Department’s newest addition to the fleet. Division Chief Clark Simmons gives a tour of the new pumper at Station 71.
The Melbourne Fire Department recently placed a new 2024 Sutphen custom pumper into service (1,500 gallon-per-minute pump, 750-gallon water tank), the department said. It can carry all the equipment and personnel needed to provide help in a wide variety of emergency situations.
In addition to investments in its fleet, the Melbourne Fire Department is also preparing for future growth. The department is replacing two existing fire stations and building a new station near the Melbourne Orlando International Airport. The new stations will replace aging infrastructure and will position the fire department to maintain its response times as the city continues to grow.
In 2024, Melbourne firefighters responded to an average of 50 calls a day for help.
The post WATCH | Melbourne (FL) FD’s New Pumper at Station 71 appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.
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