DeKalb County officials recently joined members of DeKalb County Fire and Rescue (DCFR) to celebrate the completion of construction on the county’s newest fire station.
Located at 1712 Columbia Drive in Decatur, the newly constructed Fire Station No. 7, completed in June, replaces the oldest fire station in the county, which was built in 1953, according to officials.
“The old fire station, located at 1176 Derrill Drive in Decatur, cost about $13,000 to construct when it was built and has many deficiencies due to aging,” stated officials. “This new, two-story, 15,000-square-foot structure accommodates both male and female firefighters and features state-of the-art amenities and cutting-edge technology, including a modern fire alert system ensuring faster dispatch times with improved and efficient emergency situations.”
The new fire station also includes a community meeting room and exercise facility, as well as hot and cold zones with separate cleanout gear and laundry areas positioned to help alleviate cross contamination of carcinogens in sleeping and dining areas, said officials.
Fire Station No. 7 cost approximately $5 million and was funded through the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), according to a news release.
“It is the first of five new fire stations to be built countywide with SPLOST funding,” said officials “DeKalb County will receive an estimated $388 million in SPLOST revenue over a six-year period to improve county roads, infrastructure, libraries, parks, and public safety.”
According to a PowerPoint presentation on DeKalb County’s website, DCFR responded to 99,607 calls in 2021 and ranked as the busiest fire and rescue department in Georgia.
Approximately 824 personnel make up DCFR, including 725 firefighters and 52 paramedics/emergency medical technicians, according to the county’s website.
For more information, visit dekalbcountyga.gov/fire-rescue and dekalbsplost.com.
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