Fire station sees overhaul

By Ryan Chodora

Fire Station Two, 1154 S. Seventh St., is getting its first renovation since its construction in 1957.

Station Two is equipped with one bathroom and four sleeping quarters divided by curtains. The station was intended to house two personnel. It is 260 square feet, and the addition will increase that to more than 1,000 square feet. The expansion will include a workout room, two unisex bathrooms and showers, five sleeping quarters with wall dividers, HVAC upgrades and an upgraded electrical system. The project is expected to take until the end of November.

“It gives myself and the guys we work with a more comfortable place to live, study and sleep without running into one another,” said Tim Morey, Fire lieutenant for the Fire Department. “This is our home away from home, so it’s very important that the guys are comfortable here.”

Irving Construction Co., Inc. of DeKalb won the bid to renovate Station Two; the project will cost $253,973. Irving Construction has previously worked with DeKalb to build the new police station. The Fire Department’s technical rescue team helped with some of the demolition for training purposes and to keep the cost of the project down.

“It’s something that’s been needed for a while,” said Fire Chief Eric Hicks.

Bob Eames, carpenter and foreman for Irving Construction, said the construction is going well and is expected to be done ahead of schedule.

Although construction started Aug. 27, the station remains fully operational.

“There will not be one minute of lost service time,” Hicks said.

Station Two has one ambulance and one fire truck, and the station serves more than 12,000 DeKalb residents.