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Fire Department Moves Into New Northside Fire Station

Fredericton (July 15, 2009) - The City's new Northside Fire Station and firefighter training complex on Two Nations Crossing are now operational.

"Having a safe and secure City is a cornerstone of what makes Fredericton a Smart City," said Mayor Brad Woodside. "This new station and training complex is designed to put our city at the forefront of fire protection and ensure we have the best possible trained and equipped fire department. "

The Northside Fire Station includes apparatus bays, locker rooms, day rooms, a dorm, offices, training rooms and a public entrance, all situated on a 4.5-acre site that includes a state-of-the-art firefighter training tower and related training pads.

The station will provide fire suppression, first aid, water rescue, ice water rescue, hazmat and motor vehicle extrication services to residents of the Marysville, Barker's Point and Devon areas of the City as well as adjacent Local Service Districts. It will be home to 32 firefighters and officers as well as two training officers and the new coordinator of the training complex.

"We are entering a new era of public safety in Fredericton North," "said Councillor Scott McConaghy, Chair of the City's Public Safety and Environment Committee. "Our firefighters have a very dangerous and difficult job that saves lives. They deserve the best possible equipment, facilities and training and they will get it all in this modern complex."

The official opening of the station and training complex will be held later this summer. At its centre is a four-storey training tower with four working deck levels, ideal for rappelling and laddering. There will also be two burn rooms, one on the first floor and the other on the second. The flames will be fuelled by propane and synthetic, non-toxic smoke will be used to protect the environment.

The tower is surrounded by separate areas for training emergency response crews in confined space rescue, vehicle extraction, pumping and drafting water and the operation of fire extinguishers.

"Together, the training complex and fire station are home to a Centre of Excellence in Public Safety Training," said Fire Chief Philip Toole. "We are now leaders in training our own fire fighters and emergency response teams and we plan to offer our expertise and facilities to other public safety organizations across Atlantic Canada."

The MacLaren Avenue fire station will be decommissioned immediately while the fire station on Harrison Court in Marysville will remain operational until road repair work is completed on Crocket Street. The City also opened a new road today connecting Irvine Street to Cliffe Street to improve emergency vehicle access in the area.

Sperry & Partners, of Halifax, designed the 21,290 square-foot new station, and it was constructed by Simpson Building Contractors. The tower was built Monteith Underground Service Ltd. using pre-manufactured components shipped from Wisconsin, USA.

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Media Contact: John White, Communications, City of Fredericton (506) 460-2227.