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Blue Rock Fire District launches $10 million capital campaign for consolidated station
Summary
Blue Rock Regional Fire District outlined plans and a capital campaign to consolidate two riverfront stations into a single facility near Washington Borough Park, estimating total costs at about $10 million and announcing a public fundraising kickoff on July 12.
Dwight Hansen, a representative of the Blue Rock Regional Fire District, told the Millersville Borough Council that the district is launching a capital campaign to build a consolidated fire station and aims to raise about $10,000,000.
Hansen said the plan responds to facility needs, changing call volumes and the loss of a leased building that is owned by the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Association. "The estimate for everything, and I'm talking about engineering, buying the land, building the building, is about $10,000,000," Hansen said. He said the district currently holds roughly $1,900,000 in capital reserves but intends to raise additional funds through grants, foundation requests, local philanthropy and a public campaign tied to the Washington Borough tomato festival.
The district has identified land near Washington Borough Park that it expects to buy at cost from LAHSA and said it needs roughly 4.5 acres for the station and up to 9 acres to meet stormwater management requirements. Hansen said combining two stations that together respond to a little more than 100 calls a year would save ongoing facility and utility costs and could help recruit volunteers. He said campaign activities will begin with an official kickoff on July 12 and that, if fundraising proceeds on schedule, construction could begin next spring with about a year to build.
Council members asked about funding sources and progress to date. Hansen identified state capital budget requests and discussions with state legislators and senators, applications to foundations and outreach to local property owners and businesses. He said the district completed an early soft fundraising push that yielded about $150,000 and that the full campaign will seek substantially larger gifts and grants. "We have reached out to our state representatives," he said, and listed outreach to state elected officials and foundations as part of the fundraising plan.
No formal borough action was taken at the meeting; the presentation was informational. Council members did not vote on municipal funding during the discussion, and Hansen emphasized the district's goal of raising the bulk of the project funds without drawing down operating budgets that support vehicle replacement and day-to-day operations.
