Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright MLA Garth Rowswell joins Mayor Gerald Aalbers, Lloydminster Fire Chief Leigh Sawicki, assistant Fire Chief Bill Heesing, and Lloydminster City manager Dion Pollard during an official hose uncoupling ceremony on Tuesday afternoon during the grand opening of the City’s new Fire Station. No. 1. Taylor Weaver Meridian Source Photo
Whether they’re racing to a roaring fire, a multi-vehicle collision, or making sure their skills stay sharp with in-house training, members of the Lloydminster Fire Department (LFD) are well equipped in their new home.
On Tuesday afternoon, the City of Lloydminster welcomed members of the media and the public to the official grand opening of Fire Station No. 1, located at 3752 47 St., for a hose uncoupling ceremony and tours of the new facility.
Work to turn Fire Station No. 1 into a reality began in 2018 and firefighters moved into the new station on May 20.
The $10M enhanced fire station was funded by the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, and the City of Lloydminster dating back to early 2021.
The state-of-the-art two-storey, 16,522 sq. ft. building has areas specifically designed for bunker gear storage, a room for cleaning and drying equipment and gear, allowing firefighters to ensure no cross contamination occurs in the rest of the building. The facility is also equipped with a four-story training tower with three deck levels, including interior stairs, sprinkler props, standpipe props to simulate high-rise buildings, and technical rope rescue.
The building’s exterior includes a balcony for practising aerial ladder rescue, which members of the LFD were using for demonstrations on Tuesday.
“The Lloydminster Fire Department’s newly built Station No. 1 is an important addition to the community and will be integral to the safety of our residents, guests and regional neighbours,” said Fire Chief Leigh Sawicki. “Our new location will enhance response times to our community and provide greater onsite training opportunities. These opportunities are integrated into the station through the four-storey training structure, allowing us to continue to meet and exceed industry best practices.”
Keith Rushton, a 15-year member of the LFD, was over the moon with the new facility and stated it felt more like a home.
“I love the new space. It’s bigger, more accessible for training, and we have more opportunity for training. That tower, we can do more technical rescues with rope or with the aerial, and it’s easier to use,” he said, noting his favourite part of the new station is the common areas where members can sit down and relax when they have the time.
For Rushton, something as simple as having photos from past fires hung on the walls in the new station as a reminder of the work they’ve done adds a homey feeling to the space.
“The couches and furniture are also great, it feels like home.”
