Fire Prevention Week is over, but the Emporia Fire Department continues getting the word out about fire safety while handling its emergency duties.
Battalion Chief Ryan Conley says firefighters are pleased with the response to the recently-revived smoke and carbon dioxide detector giveaway, thanks in large part to state and federal funding. There is one hitch, however.
Residents can go to emporiaks.gov/getalarmed for more information and an application. Once the detectors are in hand, firefighters will schedule appointments and then install them at no cost to residents.
Meanwhile, firefighters are eagerly anticipating the end of construction for a new headquarters facility in the 500 block of Market, across the street from the department’s longtime home at the south end of White Auditorium. Conley says there are benefits to firefighters and residents.
Once it’s built, possibly by January, the better than $10 million facility will have five apparatus bays with over 8,000 square feet of space just for equipment. There are also significant upgrades for personnel, including a three-zone setup for cleanup and decontamination, a dedicated training space, 10 private bunk spaces, dedicated lockers and new administrative space, among other features.
The end of construction on the headquarters building also tees up significant renovations at Station Two at 15th and Industrial. Plans for repurposing the current headquarters space at White Auditorium have not been announced.
