The department previously had one station on Saddle Mountain, and a small satellite station on the west end of town. Abraham says they barely had enough room for the department's trucks.

"In the case of the ladder, when it backed in, you couldn't walk around it in any way - you had to open the door to go out around the truck," he said. "There were less than three inches of clearance in the whole building for the truck."

The new station includes a meeting room, sleeping quarters, and space for training equipment. Even the gear locker is a big step up for the fire department.

"The guys kept their gear in bags, and when they'd show up at the station, they'd just stand on the floor next to the truck and put their gear on," Abraham said. "We've never had anything like this."

The department will also have more space for offices. Eventually, Abraham says the building could host local offices for the Jefferson County sheriff, commission and county attorney.

"Engine 2 was responding 'Code Yellow,' or without the need for emergency warning lights and siren, when a small sedan-style vehicle ran a stop sign," firefighters wrote. "The fire engine was unable to stop in time and was struck on the side."

The uninjured fire crew of four aided the sedan's occupants; both were taken to a hospital by an ambulance for treatment of minor injuries.

Assistant AFD Chief Erich Scheunemann said the engine sustained minor body and mechanical damage in the crash but was taken out of service for evaluation; an estimate of damages was still pending Tuesday.