Hall County's newest fire station is now officially open for business following a grand opening and celebration Saturday morning.
The new Hall County Fire Station 1 is located at 3126 Gillsville Highway just three miles away from its original location on Athens Highway (U.S. 129). The original building was constructed 50 years ago.
Hall County Fire Chief Chris Armstrong was among those speaking at Saturday's event, thanking the citizens of Hall County for approving continued SPLOST funding for the updated facility.
"Outside [the building] it says Fire Station 1," Armstrong said. "We call it a firehouse, and the reason we call it a firehouse is because we don't just work here, we live here. This is our home."
Armstrong said the firefighters who serve the area needed an improved space to live and work.
"It was important to us that we gave them an environment that was welcoming and made them want to come to work, to serve," Armstrong said. "We would not have been able to do that without the generosity of our citizens and our community."
Hall County Commissioner Shelly Echols, who represents District 3 where Fire Station 1 is located, said she grew up in the area and she was glad to see an enhanced public safety facility for the Gillsville area. She also was happy to see community members show up to meet the fire personnel and tour the facility.
"We care about our firefighters, we care about our paramedics," Echols said. "We value these people and I appreciate you all coming out here today to show them how much we appreciate them."
Hussey, Gay, Bell and DeYoung and Sunbelt Builders, Inc. served as the project’s architect and contractor, respectively. Funding for the $3.3 million project came from SPLOST VII.
Follow this link to read more about Hall County Fire Rescue.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2021/12/1062669/hall-county-fire-station-1-gets-new-home-after-50-years