Plains fire hall in need of repairs

Plains City Fire Department Chief Anthony Young is seeking renovations to the fire hall. At the Plains City Council meeting this month, Young presented the council with a list of issues and ideas for improvements he is wanting for the Plains fire hall. Young also explained the unsafe structures and environmental issues with the building.

“The exhaust is unsafe because the trucks have to be running where the crew changes into their gear,” Young explained. Young said they open the bay doors while the trucks are warming up but if they drove them out there would be more toxic exhaust emitted into the bay where firefighters change. The attached bay is used by the city public works as well as other parts of the building. Young wants to add on to the back of the building to give more room for training, lockers and storage. Currently the fire crew goes through public works bays to get to the fire hall part where they have training and Young’s office.

“ I have been trying to figure out what we can accomplish for this scope of work needed for renovations,” Young said at the fire hall Saturday. Young would like to expand the city bay from 20x30 into 40x30, the full length of the back of the building.

The city has a grant of $87,000 with a 25% match, giving them over $100,000 to spend on whatever they decide, Young said. “I just have to throw my bid in to see if I can get some for the improvements,” he added. Young said there are currently ten volunteer first responder firefighters on board but they are looking for more volunteers to add to the team.