Birth of a Fire/EMS Station
(KNS) Fort Valley, Ga. > The Peach County Fire Department has given birth to
its newest Fire/EMS Station located on Highway 341 North, adjacent to the nearly completed Peach County Elementary
School. After months of delays due to inclement weather, the foundation and concrete slab were finally poured and
steel began to rise from the floor. The new Station will be designated as Station 6, but officially known as the
Peach County Public Safety Complex.
The facility is 85 feet wide and 235 feet long (19,975 sq. ft),
dwarfing all other Fire Stations in Peach County. In fact Peach County's two newest stations prior to this
(Station 3 on Willow Lake Rd. and Station 1 in Powersville) can easily fit inside this new station with room to spare.
Like Stations 1 and 3, this station is being built nearly entirely by Peach County full-time and volunteer
firefighters for an estimated $500,000. Peach County is fortunate to have such competent and dedicated firefighters
who are willing to construct this much needed facility. The new station is being funded by the 2008 SPLOST.
The Board of Education graciously donated four acres to the county for the building site. The station is
conveniently located near the Buddy Reddick bypass allowing easy access to most parts of the city and county.
This station will be unique in that it will house EMS as well as the Fire Department. In addition, since
Jeff Doles is the EMA Director as well as the Fire Chief, the EMA office will also be located in the building.
EMS will relocate from the Old Jail facility built in 1925 to this expanded facility. The Jail was the
first building constructed by Peach County after it was founded in 1924. The EMS portion of the Station will have
3 drive through bays, offices, living quarters, a day room and a shared kitchen. Bathroom facilities will be shared
with the Fire Dept.
The Fire Department will have 5 drive through bays as well as living quarters, a day
room, kitchen and office space. The second story will house training facilities for both departments, offices, storage
and a second kitchen. The Fire Department is moving from a facility that has 1,500 sq. ft. This Public Safety Complex
should adequately serve the citizens of Peach County for many years to come.
(Photos by Rich Bennett)
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The scene Friday morning Feb. 19. The first beams are anchored to the concrete floor.
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The east wall rising from the concrete pad. |
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Looking toward the West end of the station. The new school is in the background.
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Part of the crew reviewing plans and raising steel.
A scissors crane helps lift the men and materials.
Aerial view from a lift apparatus. A bulldozer from the Road Department levels out the ground as work continues.
Chief Jeff Doles knocks the mortar off of a set of anchor bolts used to secure the support beams.
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