The City of East Ridge started the month of February off with the grand opening of Fire Station #2, located at 1410 St. Thomas Street near the Exit 1 development. The ceremony, which started at 10:00 a.m., was kicked off by an unusual ribbon cutting.
As the City council, dignitaries and firefighters held a firehose, Fire Chief Mike Williams explained, that “fire station dedications and openings use firehoses that are coupling. Separating the two hoses is our way of cutting a ribbon.”
Dignitaries and special guests included the East Ridge High School JROTC presenting the colors as Criminal Court Clerk Vince Dean sang our National Anthem. On hand were East Ridge Mayor Brent Lambert, Vice Mayor Larry Sewell, Councilman Jacky Cagle, Councilwoman Esther Helton, Councilman Brian Williams and City Manager Scott Miller. Also, River City Architecture Group and J & J Construction were present. Other area dignitaries, such as city managers, mayors and fire chiefs came from the region which included Red Bank, Collegedale, Soddy Daisy, Harrison and Fort Oglethorpe, GA.
East Ridge Mayor Brent Lambert and Chief Williams dedicated the new Fire Station #2 to the community. "The station belongs to the community, and we are only the key holders and servants of the community," Williams said.
The original Fire Station #2, located on Camp Jordan Parkway, was dismantled in order to make room for the Bass Pro Shops and Jordan Crossing development. During construction of the new Station #2, both station crews operated out of the main Fire and Police Building on Ringgold Road.
