It was a community celebration Saturday as residents of Sperling gathered to help members of the local fire department official open their newly renovated and expanded fire hall.
Years in the making, Fire Chief Trevor Dackow, says the improvements created a safer, brighter and more usable environment to work in.
That includes closing off the second-floor mezzanine where fire fighters train and debrief.
"Previously, the overhead mezzanine was open to the truck bays. It was all one space. Now, you can imagine with fumes and dirt and grit, the mezzanine wasn't the cleanest workspace," said Dackow. "Now, with a dividing wall with lots of glass windows and natural light, we've got a separate environment which is cleaner and healthier for our staff."
Under the mezzanine is washrooms, a mechanical room and a newly installed kitchenette.
"This gives us a spot so that after a call, the fire fighters can cook a meal if they wish to, they can have coffee and discuss what's happened. The Sperling crew is a very social bunch as well," said Dackow. "We usually have a couple of meals a year and this will just give us a more comfortable space to have fellowship."
Dackow says these improvements will also allow the Sperling crew to offer members of the community or the travelling public a safe place to seek refuge in the event of inclement weather or other incidents.
A 30-foot expansion was also added to the hall's two truck bays to accommodate an upgraded pumper truck.
"I got a package deal on two of them, one for Sperling and one for Lowe Farm," explained Dackow. "These are both purpose-designed rural fire pumper/tankers that came out of Alberta. They have a five-passenger cab and the 1,500-gallon water supply along with a very nice Hale pump."
Saturday's celebration kicked off with a community pancake breakfast.
