Construction on the new Amherstburg fire station has commenced with an official groundbreaking ceremony.
The town held the ceremony last Friday morning at the Libro Centre, where the station will be located. The $11.3 million building will go up near the access point to the property along Simcoe St.
Mayor Michael Prue said it was a “wonderful and important” day, noting it was a long process to get to that point. While the decision to proceed wasn’t popular with some, Prue noted it has been made and the new fire station is going forward.
“We need this new fire hall,” said Prue. “We need it desperately. It’s going to make it so much safer for people in the town.”
The cost was alluded to, but Prue added he believes it will be money well spent.
“It’s expensive but it’s going to be worth every penny,” he said.
The new station will consolidate stations one and three – the stations at town hall and in Malden Centre respectively – and the exact fate of those buildings still will be determined. The town’s space needs study, adopted in principle by council, recommends town staff move into offices in station one once the fire department moves over while station three is recommended to be sold.
The mayor also noted the efforts of Bruce Montone, the retiring fire chief.
“You’re retired but you’re going to see your dream come true,” said Prue.
CAO Valerie Critchley thanked council for its vision, noting it was not an easy decision. She said the new station will allow the Amherstburg Fire Department to serve the community in a more “modern, professional and efficient” manner.
Critchley also thanked Montone for his work the last several years as well as fire department senior staff and the firefighters. She added new fire chief Michael Mio and deputy chiefs Ron Meloche and Dan Monk will help the transition into the new station.
Several town departments played a role in getting the project to the construction stage, with Critchley extending her thanks to those as well. She also said she is excited to work with Niacon, the contractor who won the bid for the new fire hall.
“Everyone has a hand in making this project go forward,” the CAO stated.
Cameron Delaney, the project manager with Niacon, touted the new building as one that will be a “critical investment” in the health and safety of the community and to the firefighters themselves.
“It’s a proud moment to stand here today as we break ground on Amherstburg’s new fire station,” said Delaney.
The new fire station is a “critical investment” that will give firefighters a modern facility to work from.
“This indeed is a significant milestone in what has been a seven-year journey,” said Montone. “This station is going to provide, first and foremost, a state-of-the-art initiative to ensure (firefighter) safety.”
Slightly more than 4,000 homes will see a more efficient level of service, he added, while the rest of the community will see an improvement as well. Amherstburg firefighters were key in developing the fire master plan and had a major role in the new station, with 40 of 60 firefighters taking an active role.
“I’ve never experienced that anywhere else,” Montone said of firefighter participation.
Firefighter feedback was always “frank and upfront,” he added, and that was appreciated. He added his thanks to the media for staying on top of the story as it unfolded.
Masri-O Architects was also on site and thanked by Montone. He added construction should begin shortly with an anticipated occupancy date being in August 2025.
Montone pointed out the roles this council and previous councils have made and the work in the process. He noted everything from a one-station model to a four-station model were considered along the way with one not being adequate and four being too expensive. Maintaining a three-station was viable, but he said more staff would have been needed.
A new station at the Libro Centre was “step one,” he added, with the next step being a new fire hall to replace the aging station two on Middle Side Road. Montone doesn’t anticipate that being before town council for at least five years with that station likely to be smaller than the new one that is going up this year.
Mio said he is coming in during the “golden hour” with much of the hard work already having been done. He said he will guide the transition into the new station, adding he believes the new station is definitely needed.
Ground officially broken for new Amherstburg fire station
By Ron Giofu
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