Sept. 19--Cullman's new fire station is taking shape on the city's growing north end, progressing in the face of rainy weather and poised to open at the end of 2017 or early 2018.
Eidson & Associates, Inc. is building the new station for nearly $4.83 million off Alabama 157, behind Merchants Bank and beside Piggly Wiggly. It will feature administrative offices, four bays for vehicles and even a tower that doubles as a rope training apparatus and utilized to dry out hoses.
Officials believe the location is an optimum base to serve the city's growing north side -- flush with new shops and newly annexed homes.
"It's going to improve response times because there will be a five-mile radius of coverage with a third station in service," said Cullman Fire Chief Edward Reinhardt. "Plus, our administration offices will be located at the third station so that's going to free up space at City Hall."
After some delays in the spring and summer due to rain, construction has been progressing on the massive public facility, with crews laying brick on the facade Friday. Officials had hoped to open the new station earlier this year, but the city council decided to shave off some of the original $5.2 million cost through design changes.
The department used the extra time to train its 12 new firefighters and alter its operations so that it would be better prepared to make the transition when the new station was ready for service.
"Right now, we have 15 firefighters per shift with three shifts," Reinhardt said. "We want to start running calls like we have that third engine, get the firefighters and dispatch used to it, so when the station is built, everyone is ready and prepared to take calls."
The new station also includes a FEMA-certified SAFE room that can be used as an operations center during inclement weather. Reinhardt said the department also hopes to use the training room for a testing site through the state fire college.
Once the new station is up and running, the department will have more backup personnel and equipment at its disposal.
"If we get a fire call, we'll be able to respond with two pumpers and a ladder truck and still have an additional pumper truck in reserve we could use if we get a second fire call," Reinhardt said.
Besides the better response times, residents can also expect some savings on their homeowners' insurance. The city's ISO score was recently lowered from a 3 to a 2, making Cullman just one out of 1,324 cities with the rating. Just 241 communities have a perfect 1 rating, Reinhardt said.
"And this doesn't include the third fire station, so we're hoping next time we can get closer to 1 or maybe get it," he said.
Tiffeny Owens can be reached at [email protected] or at 256-734-2131, ext. 135.
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