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Fire department has moved to new fire hall

After nearly a year of work and renovations, the Estevan Fire Rescue Service has moved into its new home on 13th Avenue in Estevan.
Firehall
Estevan Fire Chief Dale Feser stands next to one of the fire trucks in the bay of Estevan’s new fire hall. The fire department has moved its operation, fire trucks and turnout gear to the hall.

After nearly a year of work and renovations, the Estevan Fire Rescue Service has moved into its new home on 13th Avenue in Estevan.

The fire department was able to relocate its turnout gear, fire trucks and other rescue equipment into the building on Nov. 18, enabling it to begin operations out of the building. The fire department was waiting for the locksmith and contractor to finish and secure the apparatus floor before moving the equipment.

Fire Chief Dale Feser said the move went well, and the firefighters worked hard to get the building ready for the equipment to be moved over.

“The firefighters have put in thousands and thousands of volunteered hours,” said Feser. “These guys are not getting paid to do this, to ensure that we are keeping the costs low when it comes to both doing the transition and the relocation into the new fire hall.

“Whenever we have a lot of available manpower, we’re definitely going to take advantage of that and get them doing something over here.”

The offices for Feser, Deputy Chief Rick Davies and administrative assistant Rhonda Gillespie have also been shifted over.

The fire department has been busy since relocating its operations over from the old fire hall on Third Street, as it has responded to eight calls, as of Monday afternoon.

“We are extremely excited to be operational in our new location here,” said Feser. “Of course, there is still a lot of elbow grease and work to be done here yet, but we are functional both with our offices as well as emergency response of the apparatus floor as well.”

Some additional rooms still need to be constructed for the apparatus floor, including an air compressor fill room and a room to clean and dry the turnout gear. And there is some work remaining for painting and tidying up the building.

There is little that remains at the old fire hall. A lot of the antiquities are still upstairs. Those historical items will be part of displays in the front entrance of the new fire hall. A fire prevention and public education area will also be out front for public education purposes.

“I am looking at trying to involve a lot of our retired members here as well now, to see if they would be so inclined to provide a guided tour a couple times a month throughout the year, so that way it gives them a sense of ownership,” said Feser. “These guys and gals have contributed tonnes and tonnes of hours (to the fire department) throughout the years and have since retired, but I would like to keep them part of the fire department.”

There were delays during the renovation of the new fire hall, while the fire department was waiting for supplies so that the contractors could get in and do their necessary work.

“We used all local contractors and suppliers in the city of Estevan and surrounding areas, and they have done an amazing job,” said Feser.

But the renovation of the building went well, and the fire department didn’t want to rush the process. There were some water main breaks that occurred early in the process, which proved to be the only unbudgeted expense.

No red flags have come up since the building was purchased early in the year.

“We have really good soil conditions, especially the property that this building sits on, and the concrete slab is in great shape,” said Feser. “They just could not believe how well it stood up.”

The new fire hall gives the local firefighters considerably more space. Feser said they’re pleased to have additional room in the bay where the fire trucks, turnout gear and lockers are located.

“It was very, very crowded, especially when the guys and gals were getting dressed to respond to an emergency,” said Feser. “We had very little space … but now we do have a lot of adequate space in behind the trucks and off to the sides so that way everybody can get dressed.”

The firefighters will now be able to get dressed, review the nature of the call, look at the response area maps and then head to the calls in one area.

Feser stressed it is important for motorists and pedestrians to be aware that the fire department is now working out of the fire hall. It means fire trucks will be turning out of the fire hall onto 13th Avenue and Souris Avenue North, and heading to emergencies in all different directions.

“Be cautious. If you see the lights and sirens, please yield the right of way to the emergency vehicles, not only the fire department but also police, EMS and even border patrol vehicles, the Ministry of Highways and tow trucks as well,” said Feser.

The fire department has yet to encounter any issues when leaving the fire hall and turning onto 13th Avenue or Souris Avenue North.

The City of Estevan announced in January that it would purchase and renovate the former Murray GM dealership building on 13th Avenue so that it could be converted into the new fire hall. The building was viewed as ideal to be converted into a fire hall because of its size and the overhead doors where the service department used to be.

Previously the city had planned to build a new fire hall in the north end of the city.

The city spent $2.3 million to purchase the dealership building, and budgeted another $200,000 for renovations. The projected cost to construct a new fire hall was between $7 million and $10 million.

The fire department had been in its Third Street location since 1961.The building had 6,220 square feet, compared with 16,892 square feet at the new 13th Avenue location.