Seventy-five years ago, women weren’t professional firefighters. And firetrucks were substantially smaller than they are today. So when Roanoke Fire-EMS Station 2 was constructed in 1950, it reflected those realities.
Now, the city is finding that stations built during that era aren’t fitting the needs of a modern fire department. The bays are too small for modern trucks, which just barely squeeze through. Women work in the department without proper amenities, and not all of the stations are located in the most efficient spots to quickly arrive at a scene.
About 20 years ago, the city decided to make changes to reflect what the industry looks like now. Next in line on the city’s priority list: Station 2, just off Williamson Road.
More room for modern equipment, modern crews
Firefighters and EMS workers who stay at Roanoke’s Fire-EMS Station 2 for 24-hour shifts have been making do with an outdated station for years. First Lt. Kevin Bradbury has spent a third of his 26-year career with the department at Station 2.
“We’re used to it,” he said, laughing, of the station’s chipping paint and outdated office space. “A lot of fighters, current and past, have called it our second home.” But the more imminent safety concerns led to a plan for its replacement, part of a decades-long process of revamping the city’s fire stations for greater efficiency.
The current Station 2 is a block off Williamson Road, so crews have to drive down a residential street or two before they get to the main thoroughfare. The new station will be right on Williamson, which should mean quicker response times, Chief David Hoback said.
The new station also is intended to create more space for medical vehicles, and to promote gender diversity, Hoback said. This station will be larger than the one it’s replacing, with the help of a land donation coming from a Roanoke family.
On Dec. 16, the Roanoke City Council accepted five parcels in the 2300 block of Williamson Road from the Farrell family, which operates Berglund Automotive.
“We are proud to be able to contribute to the safety of this community,” Bruce Farrell said at the council meeting. “The Fire-EMS department’s dedication to protecting and serving the city of Roanoke is inspiring, and we hope that this donation will help further their efforts in keeping everyone safe.”
The city had recently paid $900,000 for adjacent land, previously home to a Budget Inn, for a new facility to replace Station 2. The extra land will allow for a community room with adequate parking and other amenities, Hoback said.
“This land donation is a vital contribution to ensure that the city can design and build a sustainable fire station to serve the Williamson Road community over the next 75 years,” Hoback said at the council meeting. “We are incredibly grateful to the Farrell family for their generous donation and support.”
The old Station 2, at 55 Noble Ave., was not built for medical vehicles like ambulances, Hoback said. But as demand increased, ambulances became necessary at this location.
Hoback said the old station is 4,200 square feet. The new one will be almost four times that size.
“The station is structurally OK, but it doesn’t meet the needs of a modern fire station,” he said. With the relocation onto Williamson Road, a “main thoroughfare,” Hoback said crews can reach more locations quicker without going through residential neighborhoods first.
The new station will house an engine, a ladder truck, two medic units and a hazardous materials unit. The old station will be used for storage, Hoback said. It’s less than a half-mile from the site for the new station.
“Fallen Firefighter,” a monument to honor city firefighters who died in service, will also be relocated to the new station from its current place in front of the Virginia Museum of Transportation, where it wasn’t getting much foot traffic, Hoback said.
The old station lacks women’s restrooms and a place to sleep — something that will change in the new construction.
Of the 320 total personnel in the department, Hoback said 29 are women.
There’s no estimate as to when the new station might be ready for use. Hoback said design will start this month and will likely take nine months. It will be followed by a bid process and then a 12- to 16-month build time.
Hoback estimates that the project will cost $10 million. It’s his fifth station he’s been a part of building and designing.
“I tell you every time that I’ve been a part of it, it’s very rewarding,” Hoback said. “Public safety facilities can really change the landscape of an area that otherwise, you know, may have some problems, and by putting that there, that will help.”
Years of replacements and consolidations
The city first considered updating its fire stations 20 years ago.
The fire department, which dates to the late 1800s, initially located its stations based on how far a horse could run. Stations can now be consolidated and centrally located “without impact on services within the community and often improved services,” Hoback said.
The city had 14 stations prior to 2007, and has consolidated to 11.
Consolidations and replacement stations are prioritized based on age, condition and location of the station, Hoback said.
Hoback said Station 8 in South Roanoke is next in line for replacement after Station 2 is completed.
