 |  |  |  |
Fire Department christens new building
By Byron Painter
Editor
There were many smiles and a few tears on Sunday afternoon as the Riverton Area Fire Protection District officially opened its new building on Riverton Road.
The facility officially opened with the bell ringing by RAFPD President Alex Lyons, and past chief Dominic Vespa used a large pair of scissors to cut the ribbon.
Before those events, many people made short speeches, including county board member Jim Good, the RAFPD treasurer, Rep. Bill Mitchell and Dr. John Holland, the
‘founding father’ of EMS in the Springfield area, according to Good.
Both Chief Louie Rogers and Lyons noted (proudly) that the building, which cost about $1.2 million, including the land purchase, was paid for without raising taxes and with
little help from the state.
“This is a big step up,” said Rogers. “We tried to build for the future.”
Neither of the old facilities (Seventh and Spaulding and also on Jefferson) were adequate anymore.
The call volume has increased tremendously in recent years for the all-volunteer department.
Riverton was the first 24/7 department to go paramedic-based with St. John’s.
“That speaks volumes about the commitment of our staff,” said Rogers.
Lyons noted that this type of facility has been a ‘dream’ for 15-20 years; the old house was built in the 1940s and was “dingy and dismal,” according to Lyons, who fought back
tears during his presentation.
The Spaulding Street firehouse was “never a functional firehouse,” he continued.
There is always someone on call in the facility, which has a training room, five bays and a shower that is part of a living room-type room with couches.
With so many people spending so much time there, both Rogers and Lyons wanted the volunteers to feel as comfortable as possible and provide some “comforts of home.”
The department also went ALS (advanced life support) last year, which allows members who are trained to administer drugs and I/Vs if necessary. Two of the volunteers are
Medivac nurses, according to Lyons. Many of the firefighters have ‘jump kits’ in their vehicles to assist victims before the fire engines and other people arrive.
The facility sits on five acres, and there is room to expand to the south and east.
In April 2006, the board “made some tough decisions,” said Rogers. Shortly thereafter, the building process went full-force.
Both Lyons and Rogers noted that the new facility could not have been done without assistance from their predecessors, who started to put money aside for such a day like
Sunday.
“We want what is best for our community,” said Lyons.
By Byron Painter
Editor
There were many smiles and a few tears on Sunday afternoon as the Riverton Area Fire Protection District officially opened its new building on Riverton Road.
The facility officially opened with the bell ringing by RAFPD President Alex Lyons, and past chief Dominic Vespa used a large pair of scissors to cut the ribbon.
Before those events, many people made short speeches, including county board member Jim Good, the RAFPD treasurer, Rep. Bill Mitchell and Dr. John Holland, the
‘founding father’ of EMS in the Springfield area, according to Good.
Both Chief Louie Rogers and Lyons noted (proudly) that the building, which cost about $1.2 million, including the land purchase, was paid for without raising taxes and with
little help from the state.
“This is a big step up,” said Rogers. “We tried to build for the future.”
Neither of the old facilities (Seventh and Spaulding and also on Jefferson) were adequate anymore.
The call volume has increased tremendously in recent years for the all-volunteer department.
Riverton was the first 24/7 department to go paramedic-based with St. John’s.
“That speaks volumes about the commitment of our staff,” said Rogers.
Lyons noted that this type of facility has been a ‘dream’ for 15-20 years; the old house was built in the 1940s and was “dingy and dismal,” according to Lyons, who fought back
tears during his presentation.
The Spaulding Street firehouse was “never a functional firehouse,” he continued.
There is always someone on call in the facility, which has a training room, five bays and a shower that is part of a living room-type room with couches.
With so many people spending so much time there, both Rogers and Lyons wanted the volunteers to feel as comfortable as possible and provide some “comforts of home.”
The department also went ALS (advanced life support) last year, which allows members who are trained to administer drugs and I/Vs if necessary. Two of the volunteers are
Medivac nurses, according to Lyons. Many of the firefighters have ‘jump kits’ in their vehicles to assist victims before the fire engines and other people arrive.
The facility sits on five acres, and there is room to expand to the south and east.
In April 2006, the board “made some tough decisions,” said Rogers. Shortly thereafter, the building process went full-force.
Both Lyons and Rogers noted that the new facility could not have been done without assistance from their predecessors, who started to put money aside for such a day like
Sunday.
“We want what is best for our community,” said Lyons.
Issue Date: June 12, 2008
