By JOHN D. RUSSELL
Published: May 26, 2011
Florence city and fire officials put their hands on a fire hose today, but it wasn’t to extinguish a fire.
It was to officially open the newly built Florence City Fire Department Station 5 in south Florence on Redbud Lane.
City and fire officials held a long hose and, on the count of three, uncoupled it for a twist on the typical ribbon cutting.
Florence Mayor Stephen J. Wukela was in attendance and said the station couldn’t have come at a better time in what he described as a perennial need.
The last time the city built a new station was 30 years ago.
“Over the last 10 years we’ve seen a 23 percent growth in the city,” Wukela said. “I’m immensely pleased with what this means to the citizens in terms of protection of property and families.”
The station will cover parts of the southern region and spans a little more than 7,300 square feet. It also has a state-of-the-art training room that can hold 40 people and will allow the department to host local and state training classes.
There are four bedrooms, as opposed to large bunk rooms, that will allow more privacy for the four-person crew working in shifts around the clock.
Florence Fire Chief Randall Osterman said the new station also serves as a morale booster for the department.
“It’s something that they’ve worked on for many, many years that has come to fruition,” Osterman said. “Today they get to stand in front of it and say we actually have a fire station 5. We’re very proud and excited about that.”