By Geoff Smith (@GeoffSmithLNN on Twitter)

Ground broken on Coaldale fire hall project

Dec 11, 2018 | 10:41 AM

COALDALE – Work is expected to begin early in the new year on a renovated and expanded fire hall for Coaldale.

A groundbreaking was held Monday, Dec. 10 for the multi-stage project, which was approved in the town’s 2019-2021 Operating and Capital Budget. The total price tag is approximately $3.9 million.

In a news release, Mayor Kim Craig looked forward to a safer working environment as well as a partnership with Palliser Regional Schools for emergency training.

“It is truly a win-win across the board for the Town, the County, Palliser, AHS, and our local firefighters,” Craig said. The partnership will provide a joint-credit fire school course option for Kate Andrews High School students.

The first phase is new garage bays immediately to the east of the existing fire hall, with oversized doors to accommodate larger equipment. It will have space for all town and county equipment, with ventilation and air filtration, industrial washing infrastructure, and storage.

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The existing fire hall will be renovated and include office space for the fire department leadership, storage and sleeping quarters to be leased out, a training/meeting room and refurbished kitchen.

And in the final stage, a two-story breezeway will connect the two, providing a new main entrance and a new Emergency Operations Centre on the second floor. The dual-credit fire academy will also be located there.

“This project sets the stage for our fire department’s future and for the upcoming growth our town and region will be seeing,” Fire Chief Kevin McKeown said in the release.

The plans were designed by Ian Moxon Architects Inc. with construction awarded to Southwest Design and Construction Ltd.