Cold Lake's new fire hall is beginning to take shape.
Construction on the new downtown fire hall broke ground back in February. So far, the project is about one-third of the way done and is still right on schedule for a May 2016 completion.
“We're extremely excited. As we see the steel and brick going up it's pretty exciting for everybody,” said Fire Chief Jeff Fallow. “I've got a couple guys that come down daily to check on it and I usually do myself…it's been a fun process to be apart of.”
The $12.7 million project will come in at just over 25,000 sq. ft. with 10 bays for firefighting equipment and emergency medical vehicles. Features of the new fire hall include: administrative space for both Fire-Rescue and EMS members, dormitory facilities for both groups, a dedicated Emergency Operations Centre for the City of Cold Lake and surrounding area, a multipurpose tower for training and to be used as a hose tower, training and classroom space, and a kitchen and lounge area.
Krawford Construction is the group behind the building of the new fire hall; they are the same company that constructed Cold Lake's new FCSS building and recently completed Strathcona County's emergency services station in Sherwood Park.
Larry Bexson with Krawford Construction said like all builds, they have run into a few obstacles with the Cold Lake fire hall but it hasn't affected them timing-wise.
“There are always obstacles. We've worked through some issues and it's typical construction. What's on paper doesn't always relate to actual construction, but any time we've lost we've made up.”
Bexson explained that the roofer was scheduled for Monday morning to get the roof of the fire hall watertight, and they're getting ready to close in the building.
“We're getting ready to pour our floor slabs and we're getting ready to close in the building. The exterior shell is going up, we're scheduled to be done the dry wall in a couple weeks. The water and sewer are also going in and we're going to start the brick on the tower soon.”
So far, Bexson said they have managed to stay around budget on this multi-million dollar project. He noted that with a project this size, they expect to have about a three to five percent cost overrun, but they've stayed within that range.
This new emergency services facility will replace the 50-year-old fire hall, which was demolished in the first phase of construction. The downtown fire hall has around 30 firefighters and takes about two-thirds of the calls between the two fire halls. While waiting for the new hall to be built, firefighters are using a temporary structure behind the construction site. They have also been granted the use of the second floor of the neighbouring FCSS building for training purposes.
In order to keep some of their longstanding traditions alive, Fallow said a number of pieces from the old fire hall will be incorporated into this new building.
“In front of the old fire station there was a dial with a mosaic in it and that has been lifted and secured. That's going to be the centerpiece of a new park in front of (the new fire hall).”
In additional to the dial, they will also be transferring their memorial plaque to the new fire hall. Fallow said that they are hoping to use some of the bricks from the mural in the old building in this new facility.
“Anything that reminds us of our history is definitely important,” expressed Fallow.
Cold Lake's new downtown fire hall has been much-anticipated, as the previous building was outgrown and didn't offer the amenities firefighters would want in a hall. With this new facility, it will allow the city's firefighters to train right on-site. Fallow explained that with the growth Cold Lake has shown over the years, the new downtown fire hall will be a definite asset.
“This is a huge project that's long overdue; this will all us to meet the needs of the city for decades and decades to come.”
