Murray Fire officials expect to have their new north station ready as early as next spring.
City and fire department officials broke ground yesterday for the new fire station located on U.S. 641 near the Utterback Road intersection between Woodcrafters Furniture and Holmes Family Restaurant.
MFD Chief Eric Pologruto says the location is strategic, greatly reducing response times for that part of the city.
“It was recognized several years ago that because of the significant growth the northern part of Murray had experienced in the past five to ten years, both residential and commercial, the response times the fire department was having in the area were a little longer than we'd like them to be," said Pologruto. "So that was the direct factor in selecting that location."
Pologruto says the city worked with Owensboro-based architects RBS Design Group on the blueprints.
The close to $2 million station will feature two 90 ft-long engine bays and will house up to 6 firefighters at a time.
Pologruto says he also made sure the specifications allowed for future expansion.
"Initially there'll be only one frontline unit staffed there, but there's two bays being built and the construction techniques they're utilizing would allow a third bay to be added on if in the next 15, 20 or 30 years the city grows in size and there's need for additional truck housing," said Pologruto.
He says construction should be completed within seven months with the new station operational by springtime.
