New station will allow firefighters to quickly respond to emergencies, retain qualified employees
The Marshall Township Board has taken a step toward building a new fire station that has more training space for firefighters and additional bays for fire trucks as well as more storage for life-saving equipment.
The new proposed Fire Station 1 in Marshall Township will be built at 13550 15 Mile Road, just across the street from its current location. The move will allow the land where the current station is located to be part of the Marshall Area Jobs, Opportunities, and Recreation Campus (MAJOR), home to Ford’s BlueOval Battery Park Michigan and other future businesses.
“This is a win-win for our community because it means a new station for our firefighters that creates additional space for training and storage for their life-saving gear,” said Jeff Albaugh, clerk of the Marshall Township Board. “It also allows for the growth of the MAJOR campus and that means more opportunities for spinoff businesses as BlueOval takes shape.”
Members of the Marshall Township Board, who are committed to being good stewards of taxpayer money, noted that state funding – not local taxpayers – will cover the costs of building the new station.
“It’s exciting to see progress at the MAJOR campus as well as steps toward the creation of a new modern fire station,” said Jim Durian, CEO of Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance (MAEDA). “As we have more people living and working in Marshall, it’s important we provide our firefighters a top-notch facility that will help them do what they do best: protect lives and property. This will also help us continue to attract and retain qualified individuals to careers in public safety.”
Marshall Township firefighters respond to an average of 200 calls per year. The new station will still be located within 2 miles of most Marshall Township residents, allowing firefighters to quickly respond to emergencies. The township has two pumpers and two tankers – an additional bay at the new station will allow for new equipment to be added.
“As a longtime volunteer firefighter and an EMT, I know the importance of keeping our firefighting equipment and facilities up to date,” said Bob Lyng, a Marshall Township trustee. “This new location for Station 1 will allow our brave firefighters to maintain their quick response times across the township, including those areas to the south and southwest – the Ceresco and Squaw Creek neighborhoods.”
The new station is expected to be finished in late 2024 or early 2025 and fire station operations won’t leave the old building until the new one is ready for occupancy.