While construction was completed in just over a year, Carter and Jensen both noted there was at least one setback — a spring storm that brought 100 mph-plus wind gusts.

"We had just put the trusses up and the insulation down," Carter said. "Before we could get the metal (roof) down, we had a 100 mph windstorm. We had a problem."

With the station complete, Jensen said the fire crew will be better able to meet the needs of the district, which extends from Yakima and Benton counties to west of Cleveland and from the Yakama reservation to Alderdale.

The chief said that while initial estimates had put the new Station No. 1 at completion by this fall, it now appears the new facility near the city recreation park on South Rogers Street will be complete in mid-August. The station will replace the former Station No. 1, which is being converted into a courtroom on the site of the city’s forthcoming municipal complex on U.S. 80.

City officials voted at the end of last year to award the contract for construction of the new Station No. 1 — a $1.5 million expense being paid for out of special purpose local option sales tax funds.

Anniston Fire Department is a certified regional training site and an extension of the Tuscaloosa-based Alabama Fire College, Taylor said. Most of the cost to a fire department in training firefighters is travel and lodging during training, Taylor said, so having more of these regional training facilities saves departments money.

The council in October approved the approximately $2 million new station, which was built at the site of the old Marvin’s hardware and building supply store. The new three-bay station includes living quarters and a 25-person classroom.