The Lethbridge Fire Department Headquarters and Emergency Services have a new home.

On Sept. 21 the new fire headquarters was unveiled.

Due to the high concentration of emergency calls in the downtown area and overall growth in the community, a larger centrally located fire station was required to maintain current service levels. Headquarters are now located on the corner of Scenic Drive and 4th Avenue S.

Hundreds gathered in the firehouse as Mayor Rajko Dodic and lethbridge police and fire chiefs of Lethbridge praised the new building.

“It’s a very beautiful building, and a great enhancement to the Lethbridge Fire and Medical services,” Dodic explained.

The $19-million grant from the provincial government went towards enhancing technology, as well as keeping the building environmentally friendly. Equipped with temperature-controlled windows, station No. 1 can regulate the air temperature inside according to the temperature outside.     
The total budget for the building was over $15 million. When fully completed, the new headquarters will be on time, and under budget.

The station staffs up to 45 people during the day “and about half that during the night, but we are on call 24 hours a day,” said Roy Pollmuller, deputy fire chief.

Station No. 4, located on 5th Avenue N. was also renovated to increase the size of training rooms, as well as to improve the functionality of the whole building.

 The renovation also included a new burn tower for training exercises, and many environmentally friendly features. The water used during the burn tower training will now be collected and treated. The complex will also use a safer fuel.

Photo by Hayley Tanner: Lethbridge residents admire the new fire hall, which opened its doors Monday Sept. 12 to the public, inviting them to see and hear what they deal with on a day-to-day basis.