The Town of Essex and Essex Fire and Rescue Services celebrated the official grand opening of Essex Fire Station 2 on Saturday.
The new station is located on North Malden Road, can house up to five fire trucks, and includes a large training room that can accommodate up to 70 firefighters at a time.
The celebration began with the marching of the firefighters and a blessing, followed by opening remarks from Mayor Richard Meloche and Fire Chief Rick Arnel, and a ‘Push-in’ of the trucks, a tradition dating back to the late 1800s.
"This is an important addition to the community and will be integral to the safety and security of our residents," Arnel said.
"The location of our newest fire station will enhance the service provided to our residents as it is more central to established residential service areas," he added.
The older fire station in Gesto was considered too small and inadequate to meet the town’s needs.
-with files from Adelle Loiselle