By Staff
Thankful for USDA funding
By CLAUD HODGES
Senior Reporter
A bright, sunny day pouring rays of light into new, shiny, firetruck garage bays provided a splendid setting Tuesday for the grand opening of the Washington Fire-Rescue-EMS-Inspections Department Station 2.
More than 100 people attended the grand opening. City leaders, state agency officials and representatives from Congressional offices were at the event.
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development provided a $2,867,000 low interest loan for the construction of Station 2 with three drive-through garage bays fire and rescue trucks. The station accommodates fire, rescue and emergency medical services for the City of Washington.
The station includes hazardous material and decontamination cleanup and hose turnout gear storage. It has sleeping quarters for 18 people, a fully-functional kitchen, an exercise room, a dispatch office and a central command center.
The station enables the fire department to improve its response time and insurance rating, which could result in an insurance premium reduction for property owners in the fire district.
Washington City Manager Jim Smith said Station 2 is critical for Washington.
Washington Fire Chief Jimmy Davis said response time for incidents in the western Washington area has been halved since Station 2 was opened for service three months ago.