by Liz Nagy, NBC29Fluvanna County is getting $1.4 million in federal stimulus funds to build a new fire station, announced Congressman Tom Perriello's office on Thursday. The new station will replace the current Fork Union volunteer fire company station that's sitting on a flood plain.
Fluvanna fire chief Mike Brent says the Fork Union volunteer fire station on West River Road sits in a flood plane so when the creek floods, firefighters have to move trucks out of the garage. The ventilation system is outdated and overworked from diesel fumes and firefighters don't have enough room to maneuver the trucks.
More than 100 contractors in Fluvanna will have work when construction starts on the brand new Fork Union fire station.
"With this caliber of a facility coming here to Fluvanna County, we should have the availability of putting people to work for a while," stated Fluvanna County Supervisor Mozell Booker.
Fluvanna County Fire Chief Mike Brent said, "What we're trying to do is make these buildings good and functional for our volunteer firefighters and at some point, the county will be going to career firefighters and we want to be able to help that transition."
The new building will be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified. It will be modeled after a fire station built down the road in Palmyra in 2006.
Nationwide, $166 million in stimulus funds will be used to build new fire stations, or modify existing ones. Fluvanna County was one of just three fire departments in the Commonwealth to get recovery money from the federal government.
