RAPID CITY, SD — After a day of significant action for the Rapid City Fire Department, friends and family gathered together in unity and fraternity to celebrate the expansion of Station One, Rapid City’s largest fire station.
“Every square foot reflects our commitment to the health, safety and well-being of our staff and was designed intentionally and thoughtfully,” said Fire Chief Jason Culberson. The facility, which the department has been pushing for the expansion of since 1975 has been the hub of department activity since their move from the current location of Firehouse Brewing in the early 70s.
In its current form it houses and equips nearly one-third of the total manpower of the department as a whole, and as of this expansion, it has doubled its footprint from 20 to 40,000 square feet of area devoted toward dorms, facilities for exercise, recreation, and general living during the long shifts which the profession requires, and an expansion of decontamination facilities to protect firefighters after coming home from the field from the often significant cancer-causing materials which firefighters encounter.
The commencement featured a ceremonial “uncoupling of the hose” in place of a more traditional ribbon cutting, and included acknowledgment of retired firefighters, current firefighters, and the awarding of a firefighters helmet to one Tom Poland of MAC Construction, who has been significantly involved in the renovations since their inception.
“I hope that when you see this building, you see that this community and this city Cares about you, that we actually take pride in the work that you do,” Said Mayor Jason Salamun in his address to the department.
