Fire Station 432’s bay will be able to allow for a total of four apparatus.
Lacey Watt | Daily Reporter
MCCORDSVILLE — In less than a month, Fire Station 432 will have its ribbon cutting and be fully opened for operations in mid- to late August.
The new station is the first 24/7 station in McCordsville and is located on 6091 W 900 N, near the township’s two highest run locations — Traditions, an assisted living facility, and Meijer.
As the community grows, the station is located near a senior living community under construction, a Leo’s Fresh Market, and Geist Montessori Academy.
Construction on the station first began in August 2022 after The Vernon Township Building Corporation closed on $7,120,000 in bonds during November 2021. This covered the purchase of the land, architecture by DELV Design, GARMONG Construction and the equipment that is needed inside the station.
Mark Elder, fire chief for Vernon Township Fire Department, said in past there have been two stations for Vernon Township, both located on the south side of the railroad tracks. Elder said it’s not uncommon for trains — sometimes two miles long — to stop on the tracks, cutting off close access.
Florence May, trustee for Vernon Township, mentioned the new location will provide access from the north side of the railroad tracks and will hopefully help with the number of accidents that happen at CR 400W and the railroad tracks.
According to data compiled and given to the Daily Reporter earlier this year by the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department, three semis got stuck on the tracks in 2021 and five in 2022.
“This is nice because now we have access from the north and access from the south with the Fortville station,” May said.
The new station’s bay will allow for a total of four apparatus. Initially, there will be an engine with advanced life support, ALS, and one ambulance at the moment while they wait for their second one to arrive, which was purchased last year.
With the new station, firefighters will stay in the station with a separate section that includes rooms with closets for each person on each shift, Jack and Jill bathrooms, a living area for watching T.V. and having meetings, a fully equipped kitchen with a dining table and an indoor gym for workout equipment that will be shared with the police department.
There will also be a laundry room with a washer and lockers for gear, which allows firefighters to wash their gear and place it somewhere before entering the living facilities. May explained they create this separation because residue left behind by fire has caused high rates of cancer found in firefighters.
Elder said the new station will be staffed with career personnel and there will be a minimum of three personnel on duty per day. Currently, personnel have been providing 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week coverage out of the volunteer station on Form Street, which was built back in the 1950s.
“It’ll be nice to have a state of the art facility where they can respond quickly and safely and efficiently to meet the needs of the community,” Elder said.
This past Tuesday, GARMONG Construction and the Town of McCordsville met to obtain a temporary certificate of occupancy.
After a few minor fixes after inspection, the new station received the certificate early Wednesday afternoon. This means that it will allow the start of the move-in process, such as furniture. May shared early next week they will start the move-in process, with vendors moving items in over the next two to three weeks.
As the final touches are being added, the ribbon cutting for the new station will be Aug. 17 and will feature fire fighters moving in equipment. On Sept. 30, they will host an event open to the public from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
