The city of Newcastle and Guernsey, a design, architecture, and consulting firm in Oklahoma, gathered in an empty field Feb. 6 to kick off the start of construction on Newcastle Fire Station No. 1, City-Sentinel.com reported.
The new facility is designed to provide a higher level of functionality and efficiency for the fire department and will replace the current facility. Fire Station No. 1 is the first phase of a multiyear plan designed to modernize the city of Newcastle, the report said.
The Guernsey team has been working with city officials on this project and others for the last 18 months.
Recognizing the critical need for top-of-the-line facilities to assist Newcastle’s first responders with their day-to-day operations, the new Fire Station No. 1 will include an ICC 500 saferoom and Decontamination Room for proper wash downs with extractors to clean Bunker Gear vital to personnel, according to the report.
Additional features include a state-of-the-art kitchen and fitness room, individual sleeping quarters for up to 10 personnel and a training classroom capable of accommodating up to 25 students for continuing education as needed, the report said.
According to a release sent to The City Sentinel, “The new facility offers all the comforts of a home environment with the commodities of new technology for the firefighters to perform their work and to accommodate future technologies and processes for first responders.
“In addition, the facility also houses spaces to address continuing education, like a study room and a training room, and areas for the firefighters’ health and welfare, including a state-of-the-art kitchen and fitness room.”