City and fire officials were recently on hand to break ground on the Jersey City (NJ) Fire Department’s first new firehouse in 20 years.

Located at 627 Grand St. in the Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood, the new digs is a $5.6 million, 12,000-sqaure-foot, state-of-the-art firehouse which will house Engine 10 and Ladder 12.

“We are furthering our commitment to bring renewed opportunities to areas that need it most, and this firehouse is our latest investment in the key community assets our residents deserve,” Mayor Steven M. Fulop said in a press release. “This project is two-fold in that we are putting the critical resources to build upon recent growth in Bergen-Lafayette, while also expanding public safety with a newly equipped and modernized firehouse to enhance safety for our brave firefighters and the greater public.”

The new firehouse will replace the decommissioned 116-year-old station, which was condemned after the floor collapsed inside the single-bay structure.

The new firehouse will be green construction and a LEED Silver Certified structure designed with dual bays, advanced decontamination and hose extraction equipment, turnout gear, and housing for firefighters.

Construction is expected to be complete in Summer 2022, the report notes.

“With the population growth in this area, due to the number of new businesses and housing coming online, a modern facility only makes us that much more prepared to protect the residents and properties in an emergency,” said JCFD Chief Steve McGill.

The long-awaited new Station 11 for the Charleston (SC) Fire Department (CFD) opened for business today, reports abcnews4.com.

Station 11 is built adjacent to the Charleston 9 memorial along Savannah Highway, at which nine CFD firefighters died in the line of duty during the Sofa Super Store fire on June 18, 2007.

It features state-of-the-art advancements and is about 14,000 square feet, the report says. It can accommodate up to two companies of firefighters, a command training center, and ample space for equipment and vehicles.

Workers first broke ground at Station 11 in August 2018, with an original completion date targeted for the end of 2019. Delays pushed it to the end of 2020, and then May 2021.

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A long-planned new $5.3 million fire and rescue station in Franklin County (VA) ignited controversy before the project has even begun, reports roanoke.com.

The proposed Glade Hill Volunteer Fire-EMS Station has drawn pointed criticism from county supervisors for its cost and from volunteer firefighters who say the project has pushed them out, the report notes.

At a recent board meeting, station defenders voiced frustration at mixed feelings on the new digs after years of preparation. They also said that the station’s construction would encourage development in the district.

A decision needs to be made as to whether to accept a $4.8 million bid from a Gretna construction company to start work on the chosen site—near the intersection of Virginia 40 and Turtle Hill Road. Officials, though, postponed that decision until the board’s next meeting on Sept. 21, the report says. The problem lies in that bids for the project are set to expire on Sept. 25.

The proposed station—under discussion since 2011—is a 13,800-square-foot facility, which is bigger than the current 1960s-era station, but the new design still offers only three bays, the same as now, officials say. The $5.3 million price tag includes costs beyond construction, such as the land purchase, surveys, and architectural designs.

The Morrisville (NC) Fire and Rescue Department welcomes into service a new Pierce 100-fooot Ascendant tower fire apparatus during a wet-down ceremony on Saturday, August 21 at 10 a.m. at Fire Station No. 2, according to a press release from the city of Morrisville. The public is invited to attend.

A wet-down ceremony is a tradition celebrated by fire departments to commission new fire apparatus by anointing it with water sprayed from the retiring fire truck. The ritual dates back to the late 1800’s when newly commissioned horses would be washed along with the pumper at their assigned firehouse and then backed into the firehouse bay.

“I think it’s important to introduce the community to the new apparatus and ultimately they own it, so we want to ensure they understand the value and improved service they’ll receive from this piece of equipment,” said Assistant Fire Chief Nathan Lozinsky.

The new apparatus will be designated as Ladder 22 and is the first mid-mount platform in the department’s history. A mid-mount platform has an aerial ladder that raises and pivots from the middle of the apparatus. This allows firefighters the ability to position the ladder nearer to incidents in dense urban environments where operating close to surrounding structures is common. It also allows the length of the truck to be more compact without sacrificing the reach of the aerial, increasing maneuverability. In addition, the platform can be lowered to a steeper negative angle within a smaller footprint, making certain rescues easier.

The former Ladder 22, a 2008 KME 102’ Aerial Tower, will be the first of its type entered into reserve status.  Lozinsky states, “This enables the department to provide consistent capabilities when another ladder apparatus has to be temporarily taken out of service – something we’ve been unable to provide to date.”

Lozinsky adds, “We’re very excited to introduce the Pierce 100’ Ascendant Tower to the citizens of Morrisville. It brings the right mix of advantages and capabilities for our growing community.”