Update given on construction of new Amherstburg fire hall

The construction site for the new Amherstburg fire hall is pictured here as of last Sunday afternoon. The new target date for completion of the South fire station, located on the Libro Centre’s grounds, is by the end of March 2026.

The Town of Amherstburg has released an update on the slow moving Amherstburg fire station project, with the update showing when work could pick up.

The fire hall, originally planned to be nearing completion by now, has seen construction activity delayed. That has caused concern and anger in the community as the public has been awaiting further activity at the site.

The ceremonial groundbreaking was in September 2024.

The South Station project, located at Meloche Road and Simcoe St. within the Libro Centre property, was the subject of a meeting between fire officials and the general contractor Niacon last Tuesday.

According to a post the town placed on its website, it states final work to complete the main foundations and footings was scheduled to be completed last week.The first wall pour was completed last Tuesday with the remaining concrete wall pours being scheduled for Aug. 18. According to the town, Aug. 15 will mark the start of building backfill and further site preparation while structural steel is scheduled to begin arriving on-site Sept. 15.

Amherstburg fire chief Michael Mio was scheduled to have a coordination meeting last Wednesday with project architects, and town officials to finalize interior design and layout details. 

Full completion of the South Station is now expected by the end of March 2026.

“We share some of the same concerns and certainly understand the frustration this is causing in the community but we want to assure everyone that the town’s interests continue to be paramount and represented, and we are confident that when the firehall is completed, it will be done right,” said Mio.  

Mio said town staff and the contractor continue to meet every two weeks “to receive updates and ensure any concerns are being addressed.” The town conducts regular inspections - as with all infrastructure projects - to ensure the contractor “is being held to the highest standard, and that no corners are being cut.” 

The fire chief said every town department is contributing to this project to ensure the fire hall is being built right. 

“I want to thank them for all their hard work and attention to detail in making sure the final product meets the high standards it was designed for, and the town deserves,” said Mio. “This facility represents a vital piece of community infrastructure and once completed will allow the fire department to implement key components of the council-adopted Master Fire Plan, enhancing emergency response and public safety across the municipality.” The fire chief said the South Station is being built to house the firefighters, fire administration, fire prevention, and the town’s training and emergency operations centre.   

According to Mio, “delays with large, complex, and technical builds such as a modern fire hall are not uncommon. We are seeing construction, manufacturing and supply chain delays in all sectors. Thankfully issues here were caught early, and unfortunately it takes time to engineer solutions and have them implemented. Those changes ensured we have a solid foundation to build upon.” 

Mio added the construction schedule was also partly impacted by this past winter’s weather where almost three weeks were lost to rain and extreme cold. 

“Once the structural steel is on-site and erection begins, noticeable progress will quickly follow as the building begins to take shape,” said Mio. “We remain committed to moving this project forward with transparency, responsibility, and a focus on the long-term community benefit it will bring. We want it to be built right. We do not want corners cut to save time.” 

The $11.3 million Amherstburg South Fire, when completed, will be almost 1,700 sq. m. (18,000 sq. ft.) of building space and also house an engine, ladder truck, tanker, and support vehicle. It will replace fire station #1 (town hall) and station #3 (Malden Centre).

Mio added the building has been designed with enhanced safety features to ensure firefighters are properly decontaminated after fires and their gear washed to protect them and their families from harmful cancer-causing particulate.  He said an open house will be scheduled in the spring of 2026 to invite the community in to see the new hall. 

Update given on construction of new Amherstburg fire hall

By Ron Giofu