The new fire station will ultimately will replace the three existing fire stations around Florence and Roebling in order to consolidate the Fire Department’s services.
By: Scott Morgan
FLORENCE Fire Chief Edward Kensler is obviously excited.
"After years of talking and planning," he said, "finally getting a shovel in the ground is a milestone."
Indeed it has been quite a while, and even though the plan to build a new, state-of-the-art fire station in town is on schedule, the five years it has taken to get to this coming weekend have been what Chief Kensler called "a long time coming."
On Saturday, the vacant 4.4-acre parcel of land near the intersection of Cedar Lane and Turnpike Access Road will become the center of the fire district’s efforts to build that new station.
At noon, the township Fire Department will break ground to herald the construction of the seven-bay, $4.2 million fire station that ultimately will replace the three existing fire stations around Florence and Roebling. The new building is the Fire Department’s largest step toward a long-sought consolidation of its services into one fully loaded, centralized station.
Over the past five years, Chief Kensler said, the township Fire Department has been working to transform itself into a leaner, more efficient agency; and while not everyone within the department has been thrilled with the prospect of moving everything to Cedar Lane (there was some early concern over whether closing stations in Roebling and on Delaware Avenue would put residents at risk), Chief Kensler said centralizing the department will allow for better staffing and quicker response during emergencies.
There are still 12 to 16 months separating Saturday’s groundbreaking and a fully functioning fire station, but when it is ready, Chief Kensler said, the building will feature administrative offices, a 100-seat training and conference room, a kitchen, a weight-training area, recreational areas (for department members) and bunk rooms. Outside, he said, will be a playground, an outdoor training area and nature trails.
And, though there are 12 to 16 months between groundbreaking and finished product, Chief Kensler said the buzz around the department is one of excitement.
"We’re finally realizing the possibilities," he said. "It’s exciting and rejuvenating. It’s a long overdue feeling for most people."