Houston’s new fire station to include ambulance service

WARNER ROBINS -- A new fire station planned in the Kathleen area will also include around-the-clock ambulance service.

The Houston County commissioners on Tuesday approved a contract to design the station to include living quarters for a fire crew and an ambulance crew.

Commission Chairman Tommy Stalnaker said it will be the county’s first fire station that houses a 24/7 ambulance crew. Houston Healthcare will provide the ambulance and personnel, so the county’s only expense is providing the building.

“That’s going to be a huge asset to the people in that area,” Stalnaker said.

Although the county has replaced stations with new buildings, the Kathleen station will be the first additional station in about 30 years. The station is located on Ga. 247 near Perdue Farms on 4.6 acres donated by Perdue.

The contract for the design went to JMA Architecture for $60,000. With the awarding of the contract, construction is expected to begin by the end of the year, Stalnaker said. The station should be operational by about next September.

The building is expected to cost about $750,000. It will include four to five bays for trucks plus living quarters for firefighters, making it the county’s largest fire station.

The county has a mostly volunteer fire department, with stations typically manned only during regular working hours by one person who drives the truck to the emergency call. Most do not have living quarters.

Stalnaker said he expects the new station will be manned around the clock, or at least longer hours than other stations. The living quarters will have four beds, which is being done for the future possibility of having a full-time crew in the station, Stalnaker said.

To contact writer Wayne Crenshaw, call 256-9725.

This story was originally published September 15, 2015 at 8:43 PM with the headline "Houston’s new fire station to include ambulance service ."