Harrisonburg’s fifth fire station is under construction and scheduled for completion by early summer. Strategically located less than 1.5 miles from Rockingham County Fire and Rescue’s Station 10, this new facility will eliminate the need for county responders to handle calls within the city. Positioned to enhance response times in the Park View neighborhood, the station aims to reduce call times to approximately four minutes while also serving the growing industries in northern Harrisonburg.
Fire Chief Matt Tobia highlighted the station’s primary goal of reducing response times for communities facing delays. Speaking to the Daily News Record, he explained that the new station will include four vehicle bays with front and rear doors, ensuring safer and more efficient vehicle maneuvering. Tobia emphasized the station’s purposeful design, which prioritizes quick and safe access to emergency vehicles. “The only part of the call we have 100% control over is how fast we leave the building once we are alerted to the emergency. That is called turnout time, and our goal is to always be out the door as fast as we humanly can because that is the part we control,” Tobia stated.
The station’s construction is part of a series of city projects funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, with $5 million allocated for the build. Total project costs are estimated at $8 million, according to city staff.
SOURCE: Daily News Record
Construction works continues on Harrisonburg Fire Department Station 5.