The St. Marys Firefighters have officially moved into their new fire hall

St. Marys firefighters said goodbye to their old home and officially moved into the bright, new hall on James Street South on Saturday, February 13, 2021. 

“All the firefighters are ecstatic about the move,” said Fire Chief Richard “Andy” Anderson. “We are all anxious to show it off to the public when it is safe to do so. This is very much a blessing, we are very grateful to have it along with all of its new amenities. It’s absolutely mind-blowing,”

Even on moving day, they were still organized and ready for their next call from dispatch. Their trucks, uniforms and equipment were all within easy reach under one roof in the warm, spacious building.

Dale Robinson began his career with St. Marys Fire Department (SMFD) in 1990, and while he has fond memories of the old hall, he is excited about the move. “Everything’s new and so well laid out,” said Robinson. “When you first drive up to the hall it’s very impressive. Everything is designed with our crew’s needs in mind. We can reach anywhere in the town much faster with the bay doors facing James Street.” 

The three-bay drive-through garage allows crews to load and unload their trucks in a closed, well-ventilated space. They’ll drive in from the back and exit from the front, eliminating the need to back in the trucks through a narrow door. They can keep their rigs maintained and spotless with the help of a properly drained floor.

The one-storey building is comprised of administration offices, a meeting room, dispatch office, and the kitchen. Everything is conveniently located on the main floor, eliminating the need for a fire pole (which is how most modern fire halls are built). 

Another new feature is the designated decontamination area, ideally situated away from the administration area with a dedicated storage room for protective gear.

Deputy Fire Chief Brent Dundas, a 39-year SMFD veteran considered it an honour to be part of the historic opening in the 9,225-square-foot facility. “We’ve been waiting a long time. Our other hall was built in 1965, and while it served us well for 56 years, our town has grown and this new hall was needed. To be the first crew into this station and to be able to set everything up, building it right from scratch is a real privilege.” said Dundas. “It’s very exciting, not only for us as firefighters, but for the town of St. Marys as well. 

During his first visit to the hall, Dundas immediately noticed a huge difference in his new workplace. “The daylight,” said Dundas. “We almost don’t even need to turn on the lights at times as there is so much natural light flowing through all of the windows.” 

As Fire Chief Richard “Andy” Anderson reflected on the historic day, he said, “It’s momentous every time a new firefighter joins us. I tell all our new recruits ‘you don’t get to pick your first family, but your second family, you do’, and that is what we are. This is our second home, we meet here, train here, clean here, we even cook here. Leaving the old station is like leaving an old home, you’ve been there so long so there is always a part of you that will miss it, but that house has had its time. Our family has grown and we are excited to serve the community from our new second home.”

The St. Marys Fire Department will be sharing more of this exciting experience with the town through the Town’s Facebook page (facebook.com/stmarys.ontario), Twitter account (twitter.com/townofstmarys) and local media.

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For media inquiries:
Beverly Brenneman, Corporate Communications Manager
519-284-2340, ext. 432 | bbrenneman@town.stmarys.on.ca