Columbia County Fire Rescue 2 is going to be undergoing a remodel.
The Columbia County Board of Commissioners recently approved a construction contract with Kuhlke Construction & Associates Inc. for $5.4 million for replacing the current 3,600 square foot station with an 11,000 square foot station. Fire Chief Jeremy Wallen said a new facility is needed because they have outgrown the current one, which was dedicated in 1985, and the current one is the oldest facility.
“The changes in technology in every way, not just electronics and computers and things, but also the height of the trucks,” Wallen said of the need for the remodeled station. “[The trucks] can barely fit in anymore, they’re just a lot taller, a lot larger. Then of course with the age of the building, it’s hard, there’s maintenance costs that are basically constant.”
Besides being larger, some changes will include the new facility will have three bay doors instead of two and a decontamination area that separation in-between the living space and areas with the protective clothing to keep contaminants out of the living areas.
“It’s a big deal now that our designs from this point forward will include all those sorts of new standards for separation,” Wallen said. “Then there will be a lot of technology incorporated into it, CO2 sensors will be all around…It has the traditional open bunk room, it’s one big bedroom with odd little wall dividers for private space. There will be a fitness center, which is in almost all of our facilities to some degree. But there’s not anything fancy and new. We’ve got a small classroom.”
For the remodeled station, there are plans to have gold and black on the medallion recognizing that the station is surrounded by Evans elementary, middle and high schools. Wallen added that the stone on the building is the closest to the original stone archway that was by the school where Home Depot is now.
The new station will be rebuilt where the station is currently located on Gibbs Road. Work is expected to begin in November and there will be 450 days of construction to get the work done. During the demolition of the new building and construction of the new one, the rescue truck and engine will move to the EMS building on Belair Road.
Stephanie Hill is the managing editor and covers Columbia County government for The Augusta Press. Reach her at stephanie@theaugustapress.com.
