When Thorold firefighters moved into their new digs at Fire Station 1 on McCleary Drive in August, it was a big deal.
Talks about building a new facility to replace the aging station on Towpath Street had long been percolating. By the time construction on the new fire station began, the old station had become an unhealthy environment for firefighters, thanks to asbestos, sewage leaks and heavy diesel fuel emissions permeating the building.
“It’s having the proper working conditions. That’s what it comes down to,” Fire Chief Terry Dixon told ThoroldToday. “You have your proper living quarters. You have proper truck bays, everything else.”
Chief Administrative Officer Manoj Dilwaria agreed with the chief, adding that the $11-million station was built on time and on budget.
“It's a huge upgrade from what we had previously, and it's good for the morale of our fire force as well, because they were working from less than ideal conditions in the past,” he said. “We actually have proper offices. At the other station, we did not have proper office. We had offices right off the truck base, which is very, very unhealthy.”
He said the McCleary Drive site was chosen as it is more central than the old location and has direct access to Hwy. 58.
While the station went into service on Aug. 1, the city celebrated the opening of the building on Friday (Oct. 4) with a ribbon cutting and a tour of the facility.
At the ceremony, Mayor Terry Ugulini said council of the day approved the project and made it a part of the city’s 2022 budget.
“Council knew it was the right thing to do,” he said, adding that it was “heartwarming” to see the result of that decision.
“I was committed, as was council, to make sure we brought our facilities up to where they needed to be,” he said.
The station will also serve as the city’s emergency operations centre, which until the station was completed, was located at City Hall.
“It makes sense to have it at the fire station,” Dilwaria said. “Our previous fire station was not in the best of shape and didn’t have the capacity to do it. Here we have the capacity.”
Thorold's fire department is currently made up of a mix of career staff (23) and volunteer firefighters (60), just shy of a full complement of 90.
At 17,000 square feet, the new station provides plenty of room for the career staff and 20 volunteers who are based there, the chief said.
“We have proper shower facilities and proper lockers for all firefighters, and proper living quarters for our professionals,” Dixon said. “We also have a proper exercise room for all firefighters to be able to use, to help them keep fit.”
The state-of-the-art fire station is certainly appreciated by the firefighters, Dixon said.
“They’re really excited. They're very happy,” he said. “It's long overdue and well deserved for all firefighters. It's something the City of Thorold should be proud of.”
