Brazos County Emergency Services District 1 opened its new Fire Station 1 and administrative headquarters at 6055 Koppe Bridge Road on Monday evening. Community members attended the opening. The $5.3 million project includes a retrofitted existing building and new apparatus bays, restrooms and administrative space.
The project marks a shift for the local department from an all-volunteer model to a full-time, staffed operation. South Brazos County Fire Department Assistant Chief Chet Barker said the department needs paid firefighters because it is handling more calls and does not have enough volunteers to cover them. He said it is the first station the department has built specifically to house firefighters.
Barker said convincing officials and securing funding took a decade, followed by two years of planning and construction. A barbecue fundraiser held Monday supported equipment and training for the department.