THUNDER BAY -- After nearly four years of working out of a trailer and then a community centre, local firefighters in the Neebing area have a new home.
Mould forced Thunder Bay Fire Rescue out of the Neebing Fire Hall in the winter of 2010.
Firefighters worked on site from a trailer until construction began, which moved them to the nearby North Neebing Community Centre. In all that time, Thunder Bay Professional Firefighters Association president Dennis Brescacin said he didn't hear one complaint.
"They were professional and maintained their commitment to the citizens of Thunder Bay," he said as city officials officially opened Fire Station 7 Thursday morning.
And the four shifts of four firefighters certainly won't be complaining about the new state-of-the-art building either.
"It just raises the morale of the firefighters," Brescacin said. "And the safety."
Fire chief John Hay said the station is 45 per cent more energy efficient than other station. It uses all modern construction materials and a lot of glass for more sunlight. It also has a bigger space for modern fire trucks and the ability to have drivers maneuver the truck without encroaching on nearby 20th sideroad.
"The features of the hall are much different than anything else we have right now," Hay said.
The hall was also designed to be as open to the public as possible, while still maintaining security, because city facilities are public Hay said. The front entrance will also feature a panic button that locks the door should anyone ever need a safe space,which Hay hopes is rare.
"It's also meant to be a place of safety. A place where you can get help by knocking on the door," he said.
The exact building is going up on Neebing Avenue, which Hay hopes to open by the end of the year or early January. Weather has caused construction delays on that project.
The only difference between the two buildings is the one on Neebing Avenue will have enough space for garage doors on both sides of the building so that trucks can drive in and out.
"It's a safety feature," Hay said.
