South Side firefighters looking forward to new station amenities
May 21—One of the oldest fire stations in St. Joseph will receive much-needed upgrades in the coming years to the benefit of its firefighters and South Side residents.
Replacing Fire Station No. 10 at 101 Illinois Ave. will cost nearly $4.3 million, and it's the largest single project on the 2024 Capital Improvements Program list, which totals about $40 million and will be worked on over the next two years.
The location has not been decided, but it will be the most important factor out of all the upgrades it could receive.
"The correct location is very important," St. Joseph Firefighter Benjamin Holland said. "That's how we get our response times up, which is really the whole point of the job, so to make sure we have quality, good response times."
Fire Station No. 10 is around 100 years old. When it was built, fire trucks did not exist, and horses were used for fire service. Oats were stored for the horses above the current fire truck bay, and firefighters say oats are still falling from the ceiling all these years later.
"It's an interesting old fire station, for sure, and it's going to be sad to see it go," he said.
But the firefighters will have several improvements to look forward to at a new station, such as individual living areas, a new weightlifting facility and a sauna.
"I've been here for seven years, and I've loved every minute of it," he said. "I love this old station, but sometimes it's time just to let it go and start a new chapter, so I'm excited for that."
St. Joseph resident Megan Wells said it will be money well spent. Wells' sister is a paramedic in Weston, Missouri, and the city recently got a new fire station that she can use.
"She is able to have her own room, her own shower, and being an only female there, that's really important to her," Wells said.
Wells said workers perform better when they are rested and comfortable in a working environment.
"You have great people that are in there risking their lives for us, and what better way to show them our appreciation than to give them a new place," she said.
