ASSIGINACK—The call for tenders for the new Assiginack Fire Hall will be out this month, marking the official start of a project that has been years in the making.
Currently, the fire hall operates from a shared space with Assiginack’s public works department and is found on Highway 6, across from the Ontario Provincial Police detachment. The garage, though, has seen better days and is in need of repairs.
The new 4,160 square foot three-bay fire hall will be located at the corner of Arthur and Vankoughnet Streets (the northeast corner of the fairground lot) and will include three bays, two offices, a kitchenette/training room, one washroom and one barrier-free washroom, a bunker room, electrical room and compressor room. There will also be a mezzanine offering 1,322 square feet of space there.
“This is the time to do it,” said Councillor Brenda Reid. “We’ve talked about it for at least the last three councils.”
“We can’t afford to be without a good fire hall,” added Councillor Leslie Fields. “It’s time.”
Councillor Reid said she hoped people realized that the fire hall has been a long time coming. “It’s time to protect our assets,” she added.
Assiginack Fire Chief Dwayne Elliott told The Expositor that the new fire hall will be a positive thing for the community and the fire department. He said having a designated classroom is becoming ever more important as more and more provincially-mandated training is occurring each year.
Because of water damage to their current office upstairs in the public works garage, Fire Chief Elliott finds himself trying to teach his firefighters while standing between two fire trucks—not the best learning environment, the chief admits.
“Thanks to the mayor, council and staff for their support of the project,” Fire Chief Elliott said.
The cost of the fire hall is $814,000 before taxes and contingencies. Almost 50 percent of that comes from a fire department reserve fund while the remainder is being funded by the township itself in the form of a long-term loan.
The 2019 budget will include funds for repairs to the public works garage.
