Open house set for June 27 at Perrysburg Township's new fire station

Fire Chief M Dimick shows off the exercise room on the second floor of the new fire station.

Perrysburg Township Fire Chief Mike Dimick said he's already heard comments about his department's new "Taj Mahal" from people who have driven past the huge new fire station on Lime City Road just north of U.S. 20.

Wait until they get inside.

The new $5.5 million, 38,000-square-foot fire station will be open for the public to check out from noon to 4 p.m. June 27.

In addition to a massive bay area designed to hold as many as 22 pieces of fire and emergency medical service equipment, the new station features spacious living quarters for firefighters, men's and women's locker rooms, a well-equipped kitchen, a work-out room that overlooks the bay area, a state-of-the-art training room, and a three-story training tower where firefighters will be able to practice a variety of maneuvers, including rappelling.

Chief Dimick said the new station is impressive.

"Maumee has a new one, but I think this is nicer. It's a lot bigger," he said, adding that he believes the space is needed. "We've got equipment stored at the old EMS building and at Station 2 [on Fort Meigs Road.] This will allow us to bring everything under one roof."

Trustee Bob Mack said that compared to the township's old fire station, the new one is extravagent, but he believes it should serve the township's needs into the future.

"We're very pleased and proud of the finish and the functionality of the facility," Mr. Mack said. "We outgrew our previous facility many years ago. We built this facility with a vision of the future of Perrysburg Township with plenty of room for the community to grow within reason."

Chief Dimick said the department handles about 1,500 fire and medical runs a year in the township that covers some 42 square miles, including a growing industrial base. Perrysburg Township has 18 full-time firefighters and 19 volunteers.

All fire and EMS runs are dispatched from the Lime City Road location. Township Administrator John Hrosko said the township's small fire station on Fort Meigs Road only has been used to store equipment for the last few years.

While contractors still are putting the finishing touches on the building, workers began moving furniture and equipment into the station last week. The department hopes to occupy the building in the next few weeks.

Construction of the new fire station, which connects to the township police department, began last May and has remained on schedule, Mr. Hrosko said. The Spieker Co. was the general contractor on the project, which the township is paying for with cash.

Mr. Hrosko said it's not clear what will be done with the old fire station, which is connected to the township's administration office.

Long-term plans had called for tearing down the older section of the building and reworking the newer section for administrative offices and the trustees' meeting room, but no decisions have been made, he said.

Jennifer Feehan at:

jfeehan@theblade.com

or 419-724-6129.