Firefighters Have A Personal Stake In The New Columbus Fire Station

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A new fire station in Columbus is almost complete and firefighters have a personal stake in the building.

That’s because they’re using their hammers, instead of hoses.

A dream that started almost two decades ago, finally is a reality.

This Columbus Fire and Rescue Station is unique in so many ways and is not far from being completed.

“For so many years, it was just also always a thought, an idea, but to be actually in this station and seeing it come to fruition is, it’s been incredible,” says Columbus Fire and Rescue Assistant Fire Chief, Duane Hughes.

It’s a process firemen are taking pride in, because they’re helping build the 11,000 square foot station.

“Chief Andrews actually got input from the line personnel, not only in how the station is going to be constructed, but in the actual construction of the station itself,” says Hughes.

They’ve hammered every nail and invested time and sweat, since last year’s groundbreaking.

“They got somebody to do the concrete work and all of the guys at the different stations came together and we framed up the interior. All the walls you see now, and then as it goes on, we’ll end up doing the waterproofing for the showers and lay the tile and probably do the flooring,” says Columbus Fire Station One Battalion Chief, Scott Swain.

This isn’t the first project firefighters have put their hands on and the city is saving money.

“We’ve got a saving not only in just labor, but also donated materials from the firefighters here to help construct the station,” says Hughes.

Administrative staff will be housed in the new station and firefighters will have their own rooms in the one-million dollar facility.

“Insurance rebate money, which we get every year for being the class we’re in, they give us so many dollars per person in the city and we use that money for different fire, hoses. It has to be used for specific things,” says Swain.

The station is expected to be completed early next year.