Fire hall of the future

The fire hall of the future is here today.
Ancaster’s new Emergency Services Station 20 has all the comforts of home with money-saving efficiencies that are sure to impress local taxpayers.
Station 20 has a primary response area that includes the Meadowlands and part of the West Mountain. A brand new, $750,000 tanker truck will also respond to high priority structure fires elsewhere in the city. The station is on the cusp of the former Ancaster Fairgrounds at Garner Road and Kitty Murray Lane. Soon the site will include more than 300 new homes built by the Mattamy Corporation.
Hamilton fire staff offered The News an exclusive tour of the new facility this week. Station 20 has been fully-operational since March 19. A formal grand opening is planned for late June.
Station 20 includes exercise and training facilities, sleeping quarters, offices, locker rooms and a full kitchen in an innovative setting that minimizes the need for lighting. The front façade has a heritage look with its natural stone finish. Steel panels along the east wall help insulate the building, On a sunny day, the clear storey windows provide nearly enough light for the entire building. The block wall design offers added insulation from the elements, along with spray foam insulation.
“It’s much like a house,” explained Jim Doyle, deputy fire chief. “(The firefighters) are actually living here and working 10 or 14 hour shifts.”
Four platoons, each with five firefighters are on call 24-hours a day, along with a small complement of EMS staff. Unlike a typical fire station where firefighters slide down a pole to an awaiting tanker truck, everything is arranged on a single ground floor.
“I like the design,” noted firefighter John Hardwick. “It’s different.”
“It’s functional,” added firefighter Greg Brown. “The natural light makes a big difference.”
The building’s LEED silver designation is accented by LED lighting. During construction, all wood, brick and cardboard waste was recycled. By using brick instead of drywall, the building will enjoy increased longevity, Mr. Doyle noted.
Even the doors on the vehicle bay are different. Instead of the usual glass design, the new metal doors with smaller windows offer better energy efficiency.
Both fire and EMS staff have access to state-of-the-art fitness equipment, including treadmills and weights.
Although Station 20 has been fully operational for nearly two months, there is still some work to do before the official grand opening.
“We’re in discussions for the official opening,” explained Fire Safety Officer Bob Simpson. “We wanted the whole station complete.”
Along with new sod and rear fencing, a naturalized valley area will run along the east side of the building, facing Kitty Murray Lane. The low-lying area will contain a catch basin to prevent flooding, along with a grassy knoll and five or six ornamental pear trees.
After searching for a new location for several years, Hamilton’s emergency services division finally settled on the Garner Road site, even though it wasn’t ideal at the time.
But with more than 1,000 residents expected to move into new housing units on Kitty Murray Lane and Southcote Road over the next five years, the site selection looks like a good fit.
“It was a little farther out than we wanted it,” Mr. Doyle said. “But I think it will turn out to be in a very good spot with all the development.”