Red Deer unveils new fire station in Lancaster neighbourhood

The City of Red Deer opened its newest fire station to the public yesterday afternoon.

The $7.5 million building is located in the Red Deer’s Lancaster neighbourhood, where it will serve the southeast region.

Mayor Tara Veer told reporters that an infrastructure project that keeps the public safe is crucial to city building.

“Red Deer has grown and developed so much over the years that we needed to approve new fire stations in order to continue to grow as a community,” Veer said.

Fire Chief Brian Makey in the Lancaster fire station's fitness centre.

Fire Chief Brian Makey said its uniformed men and women had direct input on the design of the station, which includes living quarters, a kitchen, common lounge area and a fitness centre.

It’s designed for comfort and safety, but also to get firefighters out the door as soon as possible.

“With the pathways and the exits to get our crews out quicker than our previous halls. The dorm facilities, the quarters are right beside the bay so that they can jump into their trucks within a ‘chute time,’” Makey said.

“That’s from the time the station receives the call to the time the wheels are rolling. We’re able to meet that one-minute chute time.”

The station’s location was selected based on projected growth and access to major roadways, reads a city press release.

Red Deer adheres to provincial standards that call for response times of 10 minutes, 90 per cent of the time.

A new fire station opened in the Timberlands neighbourhood in January.