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Fire chief seeks station siting studies and Locust Creek upgrades; $50,000 study requests included in CIP
Summary
Chief Hogg asked the commission to fund studies (two $50,000 consultant requests) to evaluate moving Zion's Crossroads and siting a Shannon Hill station, and described a Locust Creek Volunteer Fire Department renovation tied to a SAFER grant adding nine career firefighters for East End coverage.
Chief Hogg briefed the Planning Commission on fire and EMS capital projects included in the draft plan and asked the commission to support consultant studies to optimize station locations.
"Zion's Crossroads is currently the second-busiest station in the county," Chief Hogg said, arguing that moving its location into the Route 15 corridor could improve response times along growing corridors. He asked the county to include $50,000 in the CIP for consultant data analysis of response times, call volumes and siting options, and requested a separate $50,000 study for a potential Ferncliff/Shannon Hill station.
Chief Hogg also described a proposed expansion at the Locust Creek Volunteer Fire Department to add bunk rooms, bathrooms, a larger kitchen and increased living space. He said the county was awarded a SAFER grant to add nine firefighters and EMTs to station the East End, but that the current building lacks space for those additional personnel.
"There's not enough space for them in that building," Chief Hogg said of Locust Creek, noting renovations would permit the county to house the additional hired staff and better support volunteers. He emphasized that moving or adding stations affects response patterns elsewhere, so consultant analysis is required to weigh trade-offs.
The commission heard the request in the context of broader CIP discussion and was told the training center classroom project has been moved to 2028 to accommodate facility and financial planning.
