Armed with chainsaws and axes, Oxford firefighters last week climbed on top of downtown’s Station #1 and began cutting holes in the roof.
Don’t worry, they haven’t gone mad.
It was part of a training exercise.
An existing portion of the station’s north side was scheduled to be demolished to make way for a 3,900-square-foot addition. But before the bricks came tumbling down, Fire Chief Pete Scholz decided to use the situation as an opportunity for a training exercise.
Firefighters practiced vertical ventilation techniques, which basically means cutting holes in a burning structure’s roof in order to reduce the levels of heat and smoke inside, so personnel can more effectively battle the flames.
When completed, the station addition will include separate locker rooms and bunk rooms (with a total of six beds) for male and female firefighters, a kitchen, dining room, day room, an area for turnout gear, storage space, outdoor patio and an office/bunk space for the officer in charge.
Beneath the addition will be a new 1,029-square-foot partial basement that includes a fitness area where firefighters can exercise and plenty of additional storage space.
The original design for Station #1 included sleeping quarters, a kitchen and dining area, but unexpected budgetary issues that arose during construction led to their elimination.
To fund this addition both the fire department and township government are dipping into their respective reserves.
Each agreed to contribute $425,000 to the project.
However, it appears the project is going to come in under budget. According to Scholz, the cost to build the addition is approximately $680,000 and he anticipates spending an additional $70,000 to furnish it.
‘That’s my goal,? Scholz said.