(Video) Community celebrates grand opening of new fire station

Lloydminster, AB/SK – The Lloydminster Fire Department hosted a grand opening ceremony on Tuesday, August 23, 2022, to celebrate the opening of the newly built Station No. 1.

Located at 3752 47 Street, firefighters moved into the new station on May 20, 2022, after construction of the $10-million enhanced fire station funded by the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, and the City of Lloydminster began in early 2021.

The new fire station is the culmination of work dating back to 2018, which included an infrastructure needs assessment and engineering study as part of the municipality’s community facilities report in 2019. One of the key findings was that the former station (5013 49 Avenue) built in the 1940s had reached the end of its serviceable life. Council approved the construction of the new station in April 2020, and the build was awarded to Chandos Construction Ltd. in November 2020.

The health, safety and well-being of firefighters was considered in the design of every room and corridor of Station 1. The two-storey, 16,522 square foot building – just over two times the size of the original structure - 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.

Integrated into the facility is a four-storey training structure 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 practicing aerial ladder rescue.

The station also features a modern training room outfitted with firefighter education technology and has the capacity for growth as new technologies emerge. The station’s exterior property has additional space for local and regional outdoor training opportunities.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held in April 2021 to kick off construction, which was completed in early 2022.

Quotes

Quick Facts

• The Administrative side of Station No. 1 is 9,364 sq ft, with the apparatus side being an additional 7,168 sq ft. The total area of the facility is 16,522 sq. ft.
• The Lloydminster Fire Department consists of 2 chief officers, 1 administrative assistant, 1 training officer, and 48 suppression firefighters, consisting of both full- and part-time members.
• The Lloydminster Fire Department fleet consists of 3 fire engines, 1 aerial platform, 1 rescue truck, 1 wildland truck, and 3 SUVs.
• In 2021, service demands increased by 17% to 776 calls (642 calls in 2020), with alarm calls representing approximately 34% and motor vehicle collisions being 24% of those calls.
• In 2021, the department implemented a surface water and ice rescue program and a more robust hazardous material program to remediate dangerous goods incidents.

Financial Breakdown

• The Government of Canada contributed $1,294,506.18 to this project through the Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF)
• The Government of Alberta provided $3.2 million.
• The City of Lloydminster provided $5.7 million, of which $5.3 million is borrowed funds, while $400,000 came from the Protective Services Capital Reserve, which will be allocated back to the reserve once the land associated with the former station is sold.

Learn More

• Each fall during Fire Prevention Week, the Lloydminster Fire Department reminds residents advanced planning is critical to avoiding tragedy during a fire. It is also crucial to develop an escape plan with multiple exits and ensure all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are functional.
• Learn more about the Lloydminster Fire Department at Lloydminster.ca/Fire.
• For more information about federal infrastructure funding, visit Infrastructure.gc.ca.

Multimedia

• Grand Opening Ceremony (YouTube)