The new St. Marys Fire Hall is open, giving local firefighters a brand new home with many needed and modern amenities.
The St. Marys Fire Department officially moved into their new home on Saturday, February 13th. The new fire hall features a three-bay drive-through garage, and everything is all on one main floor, eliminating the need for a classic fire pole. The one story building has administration offices, a meeting room, dispatch office, and the kitchen. It also has a separated decontamination room, with dedicated storage for protective gear.
St. Marys' new fire hall is located on James Street South. The town is planning on sharing more about the new fire hall opening on its Facebook page and other social media. The old St. Marys fire hall was opened in 1965 and served the town for 56 years.
Fire Chief Richard “Andy” Anderson reflected on the historic day.
“It’s momentous every time a new firefighter joins us. I tell all our new recruits ‘you don’t get to pick your first family, but your second family, you do’, and that is what we are. This is our second home, we meet here, train here, clean here, we even cook here. Leaving the old station is like leaving an old home, you’ve been there so long so there is always a part of you that will miss it, but that house has had its time. Our family has grown and we are excited to serve the community from our new second home.”
Inside the brand new St. Marys Fire Hall sits "Old Betsy", a classic old school truck among the newer more modern ones in use today. (Photo provided by Beverly Brenneman, Corporate Communications Manager, Town of St, Marys)