The new fire station in Monkton is officially opened.
In keeping with the occasion, a bright red fire hose was un-coupled instead of a ribbon cutting.
North Perth Fire Chief Ed Smith said the discussion around a new fire station started years ago, with a proposal to put an addition on the old fire hall.
Over the years, the need for more space grew and in the end, it was decided a new hall was required and that was made possible, in part, with an agreement to share the building on a part-time basis with Perth County's Ambulance Service as one of their satellite stations.
Smith said the new station gives them lots of room.
"We have the three full bays, the bays are bigger, we have the height too that when the firefighters have to re-load their trucks they can re-load them right inside the fire hall where the old hall they had to re-load them outside. There are two washrooms, male and female, with showers," he said.
Monkton Fire Station officially opening (photo by Bob Montgomery)