
With a 1907 birth, it’s believed to be the city’s oldest resident: the downtown Hamilton fire station.
Soon that will not be the case, though. The cramped and dangerous quarters are getting a $5.4 million replacement, set to break ground in August, reports kpax.com.
At the time of the current facility’s construction, its bay was two barn doors out of which the horse-drawn wagons came, according to the report. The corner of Fox Field and Skeels is the site of the future fire station; and the change is due to size, setting, and safety.
The department in the past has had to special order apparatus to get them to fit in the station. Plus, there’s no decon room, which puts crew at a higher risk of cancer.
The city’s general fund, a state grant, and the board of investments will help pay for the new digs, which are expected to be operational by fall 2023.
City officials are hoping the community will contribute in covering the facility’s soft costs, which should come in around $150,000. The department plans to send out a donation mailing, the report notes.