North Hempfield fire station improvements eyed

Hempfield supervisors are considering plans to overhaul the North Hempfield fire station while making space for a Mutual Aid ambulance housed at the facility.

Supervisors recently got a first look at renderings from Unity-based Ulery Architecture for the Business Route 66 station.

“It’s an exciting time for the fire service. … When you see what you’re seeing at these meetings, that’s the ongoing commitment of the board of supervisors to the fire service to improve facilities, to take them to more of a modern appearance and the layout not only to house equipment but to give training opportunities within that building,” board chairman George Reese said.

Renderings show a 2,617-square-foot apparatus bay, with spaces for two firetrucks and the ambulance, which was placed at the station after supervisors in November made Mutual Aid the township’s exclusive provider. There would be space for a locker room, kitchen, offices, an exercise room, training room and men’s and women’s dorm rooms.

The outside of the structure would match the colors of the fire department headquarters, which will be at the former municipal authority building on Woodward Drive.

The possible changes come more than a year after supervisors authorized an agreement of acquisition with the North Hempfield Volunteer Fire Company. The township incurred financial obligations, as well as property and apparatus owned by North Hempfield.

Possible renovations first were discussed in July.

The projected cost for the improvements is not yet known, Reese said. Township manager Jason Winters said officials applied for a grant to help cover costs. Officials would use funds from a bond issued by the township in December for capital projects to cover remaining expenses.

Township leaders could move forward with the project after they know the grant status.

Construction documents could be finalized over the next month, Reese said. Officials are hoping to put the project out for bid by July.