Jennifer Casey, Town of Collierville
The weather was no joke on Monday, April 1 (April Fool’s Day), when Town officials, Collierville Fire & Rescue and numerous others showed up to break ground on the site of Firehouse #6. It was gray and drizzly out, but nothing could dampen the enthusiasm the public has for this newest firehouse which will be located across the street from Collierville High School at 11670 Shelby Drive.
Town Administrator Molly Mehner welcomed the crowd and was followed by Mayor Joyner. Collierville Fire & Rescue Chief John Selberg rounded out the introduction by giving the crowd a few facts about the new firehouse:
It will be a two-story structure measuring 15,937 square feet. Sleeping quarters, restrooms and laundry facilities will be on the top level. Downstairs will house living and workspaces, the kitchen and dining area, a three-bay, drive-thru garage for various rescue vehicles, and support spaces for gear and wellness.
The building will include a diesel exhaust system to reduce firefighters’ risk of cancer, a comprehensive fire station alerting system and a natural gas facility generator for uninterrupted power supply.
The area of service will encompass an 8.34 square mile district.
First responders on site will serve a population ranging from 4833 at night to 6,889 during the day.
The location will handle about 838-1023 primary and secondary responses annually.
The architectural style will mirror that of the high school by having a barrel roof over the apparatus bay and a Collierville Dragon on the building’s facade.
Mayor Joyner and Aldermen Maureen Fraser, Missy Marshall, John Worley, Billy Patton, and John Stamps were joined by Town Administrator Molly Mehner, Chief Selberg, former Fire Chief Buddy Billings, Finance Director Valesa Wells and representatives from Renaissance Architecture and Zellner Construction at the shovel line. They broke the ground to applause.
Firehouse #6 will be the first new firehouse in Collierville in 23 years, and fills the need created by the Town’s growth in recent years. Firehouse #5 on South Houston Levee Road was built in 2001.
