New fire station celebrated

PERKINS TWP. — An event helped to spark interest in a fire department-approved project years in the making. Many stakeholders and supporters came together for a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday morning at the future site of Perkins Township's new fire station on Woodlawn Avenue. It's located near the Columbus Avenue intersection by the Erie County Fairgrounds. Officials expect construction work to start soon and should take a little more than a year to complete. Upon debuting, likely sometime by early 2027, this station will replace two existing and outdated facilities in use today: on Campbell Street, not far from Strickfaden Park, and on Milan Road (U.S. 250) beside Great Wolf Lodge. "These stations have served the community for nearly 70 years, but the time has come to build for the future," said Perkins fire Chief Dave Murphy upon addressing the crowd, explaining the need for this generational investment. "I have been with this department for nearly 30 years," said Murphy as his team of firefighters stood behind him. "Now, three decades later, this much-needed milestone is finally coming to fruition." The archaic nature of both existing stations presents many challenges to carrying out fire operations, Murphy said. "Some have asked if this new station is necessary, and my answer has been 'absolutely," Murphy said. "This new facility, while modest, will vastly improve upon multiple inefficiencies of the current stations." While Murphy listed off many forthcoming enhancements, the two most notable — "which, in turn, will lead to a better service for the community," involve: • Improvements to firefighter safety and wellness • Upgrades to operational flexibility "Cancer is the leading cause of death of firefighters," Murphy said. "This new facility and its enhancements, which included advanced decontamination equipment, will allow for vastly improved means to help reduce exposure to cancer-causing carcinogens." And regarding the benefits of operating out of one station versus two, Murphy said how a consolidated headquarters "will allow for a more effective deployment of firefighters, (vehicles) and resources." "This efficiency will allow for a better response model to emergencies, better staffing of (vehicles) and, in turn, improved firefighter safety and community response," he said. Tuesday's event ended with Murphy, township trustees and other project supervisors lifting dirt in a celebratory fashion, signifying a new era for firefighters in Perkins. "The new Perkins Township Fire Department headquarters will not only help us better serve the community, but it will also serve as a space for the community," Murphy said. "And, as always, know that regardless of where we are located or what building we are in, your fire department personnel are committed to serving you to the best of their ability with pride and professionalism." Lay of the land Here's a look at just some features coming to the new fire station: • Size: The station should total 23,000 square feet. • Bays: There will be five bays, or entryways/exitways, to store vehicles. That's more than at any of the other two stations. • Tower: The station will feature a multi-story training tower. It's a space in which crews can perform ladder training, rope rescues and other exercises. • Rooms: Among the different areas within the station include administrative and fire prevention offices; shift command offices; a conference room; a training room; an emergency operations center; a triage center for people to receive walk-in treatment; 10 dorm rooms; a fitness room; a day room; and a decontamination room. Making sense of the dollars and cents Regarding the cost, this project totals about $10 million, up from earlier estimates ranging between $6 million and $8 million given out in 2024. Officials outlined how they'll cover this $10 million cost: • About $4 million is coming from reserve funds banked in a savings account. • Upward of $8 million, when accounting for potential cost overruns, is coming from a variety of sources, including the sale of both fire stations along with taxes generated from marijuana sales, hotel/overnight stays and Aligned Data Centers on West Perkins Avenue. Officials reiterated they're not raising taxes, through a new levy, to pay for this station. They stressed how trustees take "great pride in being careful stewards of taxpayer funding by managing its financial resources and committing funds over time for the largest capital improvement project ever undertaken by the township," according to a township statement. History lesson Murphy briefed attendees at the groundbreaking ceremony about Perkins fire stations' history, hammering home the need for a new facility. The history: Perkins Township started fire operations on Jan. 1, 1953, as a volunteer department. After initially operating on Bogart Road, crews built fire stations on Campbell Street in 1959 and then on Milan Road in 1968. The Bogart Road fire station reportedly closed due to "hard financial times." The growth: In 1971, Perkins fire transitioned from a volunteer department to a 24/7 operation. Today the department employs full-time and part-time firefighters. As the township's population has grown, so, too, has the number of service calls requiring firefighters' assistance — yet their buildings haven't changed to keep up with this trend. Officials stressed they need a more modern facility to best continue serving the public. The problems: In short, both stations suffer from typical aging issues due to them being constructed a few decades ago. They don't meet many guidelines set forth by the National Fire Protection Association, an agency that sets standards firefighting agencies use for best practices. Additionally, health and safety standards have evolved over time, becoming more stringent. "The stations now in operation were not designed to meet those requirements," according to a joint statement. Among some more specific concerns: • During the past decade, officials have spent tens of thousands of dollars in maintenance costs and repairs. • There's not enough room to adequately store vehicles, equipment and other firefighting materials. Vehicles have gotten larger over time, and both fire stations were not originally built to accommodate these bigger fire trucks and ambulances. • It lacks ample space for sleeping quarters. • There are no separate locker rooms, bathing areas or sleeping quarters for women. • It's truly not handicap accessible. The evaluation: In 2022, officials reviewed each fire station site and made a final determination to build one new station, which would replace these two existing structures. Despite a multimillion-dollar venture, officials noted this would end up saving taxpayers money in the long run.