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Silsbee groundbreaking
Hardin County ESD No. 6 broke ground on a new fire station in north Silsbee at the location of the old Kirby Elementary School at the corner of FM 92 and FM 418 on Sept. 13. This is the sixth fire station in ESD No. 6.
Attending the groundbreaking ceremony on the 12-acre site were Silsbee Fire Department officials and firefighters, first responders and several elected officials.
According to Fire Chief Robin Jones, the new facility and new equipment will improve fire protection services, along with helping decrease insurance cost.
The new 30,000-square-foot state-of-the-art station will help ESD No. 6 served a larger population. It will house eight fire trucks in four 4,800-square-foot bays. The new station will also have 100 cots, a backup generator, four showers and restrooms. The 7,000-square-foot operational unit includes offices for fire and assistant fire chief and clerical staff, and 1,200 square feet for the kitchen. Supplies will be kept in a 2,400-square-foot storage area and there will 1,200 square feet for a meeting room.
Plans for the old elementary gymnasium is for it to be certified to store emergency equipment, such as boats and rescue equipment.
“It will also affect the community and the growth of our community when you have this coming in,” stated ECD No. 6 Board President Matt Delaney. “When you have businesses coming in, the one thing they look at is what type of fire stations you have, what type of police department and city utilities do you have. We are the arms of what businesses are looking for.”
The new facility, with a 140-mph wind rating, will be built by McInnis Construction Inc., of Silsbee, and completion is slated by next fall.