The Lewis-Arriola Fire Department recently completed a new main station to accommodate current and future needs.
Most of the old station was torn down, and replaced with a 10,000 square-foot, steel-constructed building.
The project cost $700,000, half of which was paid for by a grant from the Department of Local Affairs.
"The other half was paid for by district savings," said EMS Captain Cassie Robinson. "We're good about saving for our needs, and not going into debt."
The new two-story station provides much needed space for emergency vehicles and firefighter equipment.
A 6,000-square-foot ground floor has three pull-through bays and four back-in bays to accommodate a fire engine, a tanker truck, two brush trucks, rescue trucks and an air-tank truck.
"Before, there was barely room to fit them inside, and the roof of the old building was in bad shape," Robinson said. "We saved a lot of money by doing a lot of the tear down ourselves."
Upstairs another 4,000 square-feet features space for meetings and trainings, a full kitchen, two bathrooms with showers, a work-out room with equipment, and several rooms.
The upstairs rooms can be modified into bunks for firefighters if the district ever goes to a paid staff, Robinson said.
"The area is growing, so there was a lot of forethought in the design," she said. "It's a really nice station."
The old meeting room was preserved as a separate building, and is still available to the community.
The Lewis-Arriola station is run by 27 trained volunteers who handle 150-160 calls per year.
The community is encouraged to attend an open house on Saturday, Jan. 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tours of the new facility will be given, and local firefighters and emergency staff will be on hand to answer questions. There will be free hot dogs and hamburgers, and games for kids.