Fire Station 9 crew members lovingly dubbed the busy battalion headquarters the 鈥渉ouse of pain.鈥 As 蜜柚直播 grew around the station, near South Wilmot Road and 22nd Street, the crew鈥檚 size and workload also grew.
But the station, housed at 6275 E. Eastland St. since 1966, has primarily stayed the same 鈥 until now.
Fire Station 9 is the first of five 蜜柚直播 Fire Department stations getting a complete rebuild thanks to a 2017 voter-approved, half-cent sales tax dubbed the 蜜柚直播 Delivers program.
The station is also receiving the first of four new paramedic ambulance units, which is getting ready to roll onto 蜜柚直播 streets within the next few weeks. These units are equipped with the latest technology, including enhanced safety features and lower emissions.
The rebuild, which should begin in 2020, will increase the fire station鈥檚 footprint and include new apparatus bays, expanded living quarters and kitchen area, and an upgraded workout space.
People are also reading…
Living quarters and a kitchen area will be expanded at midtown Station 9. The renovations should begin in 2020. In addition, four new firetrucks will be on the road by May.
In addition, nine other fire stations will get a remodel, and four new firetrucks will be on the road by May, says the program鈥檚 manager, Amber Kerwin. These are some of the big-ticket items, and a similar list of upgrades big and small are in store for the 蜜柚直播 police force in the next few years.
During an unveiling ceremony for the Fire Station 9鈥檚 new paramedic unit Wednesday morning, an older emergency vehicle took a moment to fire up, as if reminding onlookers of the timeliness of the 蜜柚直播 Delivers program. As people crowded in to better inspect the new paramedic unit, crew members worked on attaching the new 鈥渉ouse of pain鈥 decal.
Mayor Jonathan Rothschild said that thanks to 蜜柚直播 voters, the city continues to progress in funding critical public safety needs.
鈥淚t really was our citizens that are the reason why we鈥檙e having this new equipment, why we鈥檙e having this new technology,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e鈥檒l really be able to use our community tax dollars to literally save lives.鈥
The 蜜柚直播 Citizen was on hand when Station 9 opened in 1966. At the time, it had two equipment bays and a staff of six.
蜜柚直播 Fire Station 9, 6275 E. Eastland Street, on Feb. 13, 2019.
Fire turnouts hang inside the equipment bays at 蜜柚直播 Fire Station 9, 6275 E. Eastland Street, on Feb. 13, 2019. The turnouts get doused by diesel exhaust each time a truck enters or leaves the station.
The tiny kitchen for 14 firefighters lacks storage space for some pots at 蜜柚直播 Fire Station 9, 6275 E. Eastland Street, on Feb. 13, 2019.
鈥淗ouse of Pain,鈥 the decal for fire units at 蜜柚直播 Fire Station 9, 6275 E. Eastland Street, on Feb. 13, 2019.
