News

City invites public to grand opening of new fire station

By Lightning Reports, Published: September 16, 2024

The Hendersonville City Council and Hendersonville Fire Department are inviting the community to the grand opening of the new Fire Station 1 at 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20.

The opening ceremony will take place at the station at 851 N. Main St. followed by an open house and tours of the station through 3 p.m. As part of the event, a fire hose uncoupling will occur in the bays followed by a push-in ceremony where the new engine and tower apparatuses will be ceremonially pushed into the station in the fire service tradition.  

The entire community is invited to attend and celebrate. Parking for the ceremony is available on the street as well as the St. James Episcopal Church (766 N. Main Street) and Bruce Drysdale Elementary School (271 Bearcat Boulevard) parking lots. Onsite parking will be reserved for attendees with mobility challenges and dignitary parking accessible via the lower lot entrance on North Main Street. 

Fire Station 1 replaces the previous station that was no longer adequate for the growing Hendersonville Fire Department. The station houses three companies and their battalion chiefs, living quarters, restrooms and shower facilities in addition to administrative offices, life safety division offices and training room. 

Designed by ADW Architects and constructed by Edifice General Contractors, the 19,745-square-foot station got under way in January 2023. The building is equipped with three full-length/pull-through apparatus bays and a half-bay to accommodate one ladder truck, two fire engines, and a quick response vehicle. Features also include photovoltaic solar panels, rainwater harvesting and irrigation system, permeable pavers and stormwater improvements.

The Hendersonville Fire Department thanked the collaborating partners who made the construction job possible: 

• Henderson County Emergency Services for housing an engine company during construction 

• Valley Hill Fire & Rescue for housing a peak-hour truck during construction 

• Dana Fire & Rescue for assisting with housing spare apparatus 

• Carolina Village for offering office space during construction 

• Hendersonville City Council past and present for their vision and support of Hendersonville firefighters 

• St. James Episcopal Church and Bruce Drysdale Elementary for providing additional parking areas for ceremony attendees