In The Know with Gino: Chattanooga Fire Department Will Break Ground on New Fire Station to Serve Eastdale Community

Photo by Chris Carzoli on Unsplash

Chattanooga, TN – In a move to enhance emergency services for the Eastdale community, the Chattanooga Fire Department (CFD) will soon commence construction on a brand new fire station. The groundbreaking ceremony for Station 15, a state-of-the-art facility, will take place on Shallowford Road tomorrow. The project, which has been years in the making, aims to replace the outdated and cramped Old Station 15 while catering to the growing needs of the department.

Built in 1960, the current fire station has become obsolete and no longer adequately accommodates the CFD’s requirements, primarily due to size restrictions. Firefighters have been enduring cramped quarters in the aging building, hampering their ability to effectively respond to emergencies.

The construction of the new fire station, undertaken by Robert Roberts LLC, comes with a price tag of $4.3 million. The upgraded Station 15 will span an expansive 9,500 square feet, featuring two bays, thereby increasing its capacity to house additional personnel and apparatus. This expansion aligns with the city’s growing population and future aspirations of the fire department. The state-of-the-art facility will include essential amenities such as a kitchen, living area, sleeping rooms, showers, locker rooms, and a gymnasium.

CFD’s command staff has long advocated for a new Station 15, and their persistence has paid off. Thanks to the support of the City Council and Mayor Kelly‘s staff, the department secured the necessary capital funding for this crucial project. During the construction phase, Engine 15 and the dedicated personnel from Fire Station 15, working across three rotating 24-hour shifts, will be temporarily relocated to Station 6 on Bonny Oaks Drive.

Recognizing the importance of maintaining swift response times to emergencies during construction, Chattanooga city leaders have implemented a solution. Stop lights have been installed in the Wilcox Tunnel, allowing fire trucks to pass through swiftly. This collaborative effort between the CFD, the Chattanooga Department of Transportation, and the Department of Technology Services aims to optimize travel routes for fire apparatus. By temporarily stopping traffic and facilitating the passage of fire trucks through the tunnel, response times will be significantly reduced, enabling firefighters to reach emergencies more quickly.

The forthcoming Fire Station 15 will serve as a model design for future fire station constructions, as the CFD continually strives to meet the city’s escalating service demands. Plans for another fire station in Black Creek are already underway, with nine new firefighter positions having been added to the department to bolster fire protection in that area. Furthermore, additional personnel will be recruited in future budget years to further strengthen emergency response capabilities.

The groundbreaking of Station 15 marks an important milestone in Chattanooga’s commitment to public safety and its dedication to providing the Eastdale community with enhanced emergency services. With the support of city officials, the Chattanooga Fire Department is poised to continue its mission of protecting and serving the growing population with modern and efficient infrastructure.

SOURCE: Chattanoogan