McPHERSON, Kan. — Something unexpected…or maybe not… occurred during Tuesday afternoon’s ribbon cutting for the new McPherson Fire Station 2.
As Mayor Tom Brown was talking about a hose tower that’s part of the new station at 1715 North Main, pagers went off calling firefighters out to a brush fire at 10th and Mohawk Road northwest of McPherson which Rural Fire District 4 at Conway was also called out on.
Fire Chief Chad Mayberry said the station was built to reduce response times on the north side of their service area and to have a station on the north side of the tracks. Two engines and a rescue squad are housed at the station along with an emergency command trailer, a rescue boat, utility terrain vehicle and other equipment.
With the opening of Station 2, three firemen will be stationed there, with four to be stationed at what is now Station 1 at Kansas and Oak. The department operates on three shifts, with two positions to be based at Station 1 in process of being built. Crews moved into Station 2 Monday, and some calls have already been made from there before the call-out prior to the ribbon cutting.
Among the features of Station 2 is a “dirty to clean” concept that is commonly used on new fire stations separating gear, which after a fire may be contaminated with carcinogens that are commonly encountered in modern day fire service. The hose tower on the northeast corner of the station is also part of this, as it enables the cleaning of fire hose that may be dragged through who knows what in the field.
All of this is to reduce cancer risk for firefighters, who have a much higher rate of it than the population as a whole. In McPherson, each firefighter who reaches the age of 40 is tested for cancer, in addition to annual physical testing.
Mayor Brown also expressed his thanks to the Spence Family, which sold the city the land for the station. The property purchased extends from Main Street to the Old 81 Bypass. Future plans for the rest of the site, dependent on funding, include construction of a new “Safety Center” to house police operations, which in combination with the new police substation now being renovated at Kansas and Elm.
Plans are also in the works for construction of a new water tower on the west end of the site, which Mayor Brown said would provide significant improvement in water pressure to about 40 percent of the city.
The mayor described the new station as the first project of what McPherson needs to be a growing community. In that, it was noted growth opportunities are greater to the north than to the south in McPherson. With this, the community is in an excellent position for growth in industry and commerce, also noting what has taken place at McPherson’s two colleges in recent years, this will allow them to be “ahead of the curve.
Mayor Brown and Chief Mayberry also expressed their appreciation to former Fire Chief TJ Wyssman, who was involved in the initial planning and design of the project. Chief Mayberry came on board as construction of the new station began.
Eric Duerksen from Hutton, the general contractor on the nearly $4 million project, outlined the process from concept to opening. Duerksen said this project is a great example of how Hutton strives to serve their community and those they work for. Also with remarks during the ribbon cutting was McPherson Chamber of Commerce president-elect Kayla Mortiz.
One of the highlights of Station 2 is a display area for the city’s 1928 American LaFrance fire engine. That display area, as was the fire engine’s restoration, was completely funded through private donations.
