Cascade Township broke ground on a new $10.9 million Fire Station 1 that will nearly triple the square footage of tis former facility and enhance safety features for firefighters.
The new Fire Station 1, which will be located at its current site at 2865 Thornhills Ave. SE, will feature enhanced safety features, additional storage, training space and other amenities designed to improve efficiency and meet or exceed national fire standards. Designed with input from the community, the new Fire Station 1 will be 17,449 square feet of space, compared to 6,300 square feet in the current facility. The new station is designed to meet the Fire Departments goals for the next 75 years.
Construction of the new Fire Station 1 is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2023.
The new Fire Station 1 aims to improve the Cascade Fire Department’s ability to respond safely and efficiently to fires and other emergencies while providing firefighters with secure and comfortable living quarters. The former fire station was originally built in the 1970s as an insulation factory and did not meet current National Fire Protection Association standards.
In September, Fire Station 1 moved to a temporary space, which is located in an air cargo facility at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. Firefighters are now based in the temporary facility until construction of the new Fire Station 1 is completed.
To maintain proper coverage during peak times, Cascade Township is now dispatching firefighters from and staging response crews at the temporary facility, the Cascade Township Branch of the Kent District Library, Fire Station 2 and parks, restaurants, retailers and other areas throughout the Township.
More information on the Fire Station 1 project, including timelines, past presentations and FAQs, can be found here.
