Town Council approves fire hall renovation

Project will modernize and improve local fire service

The St. Marys Fire Station is officially slated for an upgrade. On February 18, 2020, Town Council unanimously approved a major renovation to upgrade and modernize the 55 year-old facility.

The project will significantly improve health and safety conditions for the department’s dedicated crew of volunteer fire fighters. The upgraded station will include new, gender neutral showers, washrooms and change areas where crew members can clean up after attending accidents and emergencies. It will also feature expanded storage where fire fighters can safely sanitize and dry their gear, as well as upgraded ventilation systems to remove excess vehicle exhaust and gasses from the building.

“Our fire fighters regularly put themselves at risk to protect our residents,” said St. Marys Mayor Al Strathdee. “This project will ensure they have the space, tools and equipment they need to keep our community safe, now and in the future.”

The renovation will also expand the building’s footprint to ensure the department has space to grow and accommodate future needs. Design and layout changes, like moving the bay doors to face James Street, will allow emergency vehicles to leave the station in a safer and more efficient manner. Other upgrades will include a new emergency generator and communications tower.

“Everything in the fire service is expanding - the vehicles are getting larger, more equipment is required - and the responsibilities of fire fighters are increasing, too,” said Fire Chief Richard “Andy” Anderson. “This new facility will address the growing needs of the department and the communities of St. Marys and Perth South.”

Work on the fire hall is expected to get underway in April and should be completed late this fall. All fire operations and staff will be moved to the nearby Municipal Operations Centre for the duration of the project. There will be no impact on Fire Department response times while the work is being done.

The projected cost of the fire hall renovation is $3.1 million. The Town plans to fund the project through a loan, public donations, development charges and existing reserves. Savings found through a 2019 efficiency review will be applied to the project’s loan payments, meaning there will be no increase to this year’s municipal tax levy related to the renovation.

Additional information about the project is available in the February 18 Council report. Further updates about the fire hall upgrade will be shared through the Town’s website (www.townofstmarys.com), Facebook page (facebook.com/stmarys.ontario), Twitter account (twitter.com/townofstmarys) and local media. Questions about the project can be directed to Grant Brouwer, Director of Building and Development at 519-284-2340, ext. 215 or gbrouwer@town.stmarys.on.ca.

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Contact

Brett O’Reilly | Corporate Communications & Events Manager
519-284-2340, ext. 432 | boreilly@town.stmarys.on.ca