Sarnia Fire Rescue marked a milestone Tuesday with the official opening of the new, $7.6-million Fire Station #3 at Colborne Road and Michigan Avenue.
It’s the first new Sarnia fire station since the hall on Telfer Road in Bright's Grove was built 44 years ago and it replaces a 70-year-old station that was small and very outdated.
The former station #3 was so cramped that hospital curtains were used to separate the sleeping quarters. The roof leaked and had plumbing problems so serious that the city’s firefighters had to use a portable outdoor washroom last winter.
The building’s issues were remediated while the new hall was built right behind it, but firefighters were happy with the “tremendous improvements” when they moved into the new station two weeks ago, said Captain Mike Land.
“This new hall is very well equipped and it’s a lot better from a health and safety point of view,” he said. “We are extremely glad to be here now.”
Construction of the new hall was delayed by about six months due to pandemic-related labour shortages and supply issues. However, it came in on budget.
Total cost, including design, engineering and demolishing the old hall was $7.6 million of which the federal government’s Canada Community Building Fund paid $6.3 million.
“We’re extremely happy with the end product,” said Fire Chief Bryan Van Gaver at Tuesday’s ribbon cutting.
Mayor Mike Bradley credited Van Gaver with playing a critical role in the station’s construction and seeing it through to completion. Van Gaver is retiring this week after 36 years with the Sarnia fire department, some of those years spent firefighting from Station #3.
“The idea of a new station at this location goes back a long time, at least 20 years, said Van Gaver. “It’s extremely valuable to me to be here today at the opening.”
He pointed to a bronze plaque mounted near the entranceway detailing the politicians and city staff responsible for the building.
“It’s a real honour to have that plaque on the wall with my name on it,” said Van Gaver, noting that Coun. Dave Boushy’s name is also on the plaque as a current city councillor. Boushy’s name also appears on the plaque at the East Street station, which opened in 1965. “It indicates that Coun. Boushy has given our city many, many years of service,” Van Gaver remarked.
The new 8,500-square-foot Station #3 features a gear extraction area for decontamination protocols and a two-bay drive-through garage where the fire truck will exit onto Colborne Road as soon as the driveway is complete. Until then, it exits out the back onto Michigan Avenue.
When it’s built, the city’s new emergency response command centre vehicle will be parked at Station #3 beside the pumper.
At the front of the new station is a panic room, a feature that more fire halls are increasingly offering to the community, said Van Gaver. If someone is walking by the station and feels their safety is compromised, they can enter the panic room, lock the door, and emergency personnel will respond.
Adjacent to the panic room, is a glassed-in community room that can be used for multiple purposes including display space for the 1921 antique fire truck recently restored by local firefighters.
The new Station #3 has amenities such as an expanded exercise room, larger kitchen and living room area, separated living quarters and washrooms for men and women, office space and accessibility.
Environmental features have also been built in including in-floor heating, energy recovery for all exhaust systems and an automated energy-efficient diesel exhaust capturing system.
Mayor Bradley called the official opening a banner day for the city’s fire service.
“In the next 10-15 years, we’re going to have to build another fire hall,” he said, alluding to the age of two of the city’s five stations.
No plans are in place to replace any other fire station as yet, but the Bright’s Grove station is designated in the city’s capital plan for a renovation and expansion in 2025, pending approval.
It was noted at the opening that Station #3 is the first public city-owned building constructed since the Progressive Auto Sales Arena (PASA) opened in 1998.