Maury County's new fire station takes shape

Dec. 1--Work continues at a steady pace for Station No. 12 of the Maury County Fire Department.

The floors and walls of the volunteer fire department's latest location were installed last week, with roofing set to begin this week followed by the laying of electrical wires.

Approved by the Maury County Commission in August, the 7,232-square-foot fire hall is located at 1180 Carters Creek Pike. Its construction follows a three-year effort to add another location, providing shorter responses to emergencies for one of the county's developing regions.

The station has been designed to match the aesthetics of the surrounding community with a brick facade and elements that match those or local history homes in the region, District Chief Peder Jensen told The Daily Herald. Depending on weather conditions this winter, the new station is planned to be completed in April.

Earlier this month, the county approved an 80-lot subdivision on nearby Butler Road.

"We have such a rapid growth area," Jensen said. "To have this station to serve those nearby neighborhoods; this is just going to be a great opportunity. We will have volunteers who will be able to spend the night there and truly serve the community. Now, we are going to be able to provide adequate coverage for these areas. This provides us with a way to get to the area much quicker."

The project will cost the county $966,000 with Paul Varney Construction providing building services.

"Construction is going great" Jensen said. "Paul Varney is doing an excellent job. It is progressing rapidly and we are very proud and excited for this station."

Jensen said architectural and engineering work was donated toward the project, saving the county an estimated $500,000.

Local firms 906 Studio Architects, Wes Engineering and Genesis Engineering all volunteered professional services to design the station at no cost to the community.

"They are strong supporters of our local fire department," Jensen said. "We have not spent a single penny in taxpayer dollars until now. We are very excited about the opportunity to continue to serve our community."

The road to completion

In 2017, the county's building committee assigned now former Commission Chairman Michael Fulbright and Mayor Charlie Norman along with Fire Chief Eric Hileman to form a special initiative to begin the search for properties to build the new station.

A retired firefighter, Norman then said the county will make sure the new station will overlap within a five mile radius with other neighboring stations to ensure the county's citizens continue to see a discount on their home insurance.

In the months leading up to the August approval, a group of Maury County Commissioners continued to voice their support for the new station as the county continues to see new homes and businesses built.

Volunteers wanted

As work on the new station continues, the local department is searching for a new contingent of volunteers.

A new recruit class will launch in January offering opportunities for firefighters and those seeking to fulfill support roles.

Those interested in joining the class are encouraged to contact the department through its Facebook page, visit a station or speak with a district chief.

Maury County Fire Department has more than 200 volunteers and continues to search for more.

Excluding the build, the department currently operates 11 stations spread across the county's more than 600 square miles.

It began operation as the Maury County Civil Defense in 1970, primarily conducting search and rescue operations.

In 1980, a rural fire branch of the Civil Defense was established on the heels of the purchase of firefighting equipment with a grant from the Tennessee Valley Authority.

In 2005, County Mayor Jim Bailey and his office created the Maury County Fire Department by consolidating independent departments across the county under a single board of directors.

___

(c)2019 The Daily Herald (Columbia, Tenn.)

Visit The Daily Herald (Columbia, Tenn.) at www.columbiadailyherald.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.