Emporia Fire Chief Brandon Beck is ecstatic with the latest step in a major update to the department’s headquarters.
Since the early 2000s, the department and the city of Emporia have been discussing the need for updated facilities with conversations ramping up considerably in the last two to three years. Specifically, the city has committed to constructing a brand new station to take the place of the current Fire Station One located at 120 East Fifth Avenue.
Wednesday, the city selected Crossland Construction of Wichita to serve as the project’s construction manager at risk (CMAR). Beck tells KVOE News that while there is still much to be done before ground is ever broken on a new station, this is a major step forward in the process.
The construction of a new facility is only one phase of the project that will also see significant improvements to Fire Station Two located at 1415 Industrial Road. For years, the fire department has noted a deterioration in the current spaces and a lack of space to accommodate the ever-evolving equipment needed to help firefighters do their job as efficiently as possible.
Beck tells KVOE News that being able to house their staff and resources in a “modern” facility will be a great benefit to both efficiency and morale. An exact dollar figure has yet to be announced for the project as Beck says they are still in the early stages of identifying the “most pressing needs.”
The exact address of the new fire station has also not been announced, however, Beck tells KVOE News it will be located on city-owned property east of the current location in the 500 block of Market Street.
