Exciting Developments on Johns Island: New Fire Station is on the Way!
Johns Island, S.C. is buzzing with excitement as the long-awaited construction of a new fire station is finally set in motion! After years of planning and discussions, the City of Charleston has officially green-lighted this multi-million dollar project. During a recent council meeting, they approved a construction manager at risk (CMAR) contract that marks a major milestone in bringing this project to life.
What is a CMAR Contract?
You might be wondering, what exactly is a construction manager at risk? Essentially, this means that the construction manager takes on the responsibility of completing the project within a predetermined budget, known as the guaranteed maximum price (GMP). In this case, the city officials have set the GMP at a hefty $12.4 million. This arrangement helps ensure that if any costs exceed this limit, the construction manager is held accountable.
Location and Features of the New Fire Station
The new Fire Station number 23 is planned to be situated on Maybank Highway at Wildts Battery Boulevard. This station will not only serve as a base for firefighting operations, but it will also come equipped with a training room, three bays, and two operational units: an engine company and a ladder company. Each unit will have four skilled personnel, ready to respond to emergencies.
According to Deputy Chief Forrest Cockcroft, this new station will play a crucial role in enhancing emergency response capabilities. He notes, “To have enough apparatus and units to respond when we need it, so this will provide for growth as we go forward as well as we continue to plan for future growth beyond this.” This means that in addition to having a new engine and ladder at their disposal, the enhanced setup will allow for quicker responses to structure fires, especially in commercial areas.
Addressing Growing Community Needs
Currently, the Charleston Fire Department operates just one fire station on Johns Island — Fire Station 17, located on Bohicket Road. However, as the island’s population continues to expand, this new fire station is a crucial addition that aims to meet the growing demands for fire services. As Chief Cockcroft explained, they are keen on ensuring that they have enough personnel on hand for diverse emergencies. “This will allow us to meet those benchmarks much more quickly because we’ve got much more density of stations going in and additional firefighters on the road,” he said.
A Community Effort
City of Charleston Council Member Jim McBride, who proudly represents Johns Island, emphasizes that the new fire station will also benefit neighboring communities. “Sometimes fire stations from James Island and West Ashley have to come augment us if there is a big fire,” McBride explained. He believes this new station will allow those neighboring teams to focus more on their own areas, thereby enhancing safety throughout the region.
Future Plans
Looking forward, Council Member McBride mentioned that Fire Chief Dan Curia has been proactive in training two fire teams that will occupy the new facility once it’s operational. The community can expect to see construction crews bringing shovels to the ground in early 2025, with hopes that the station will be fully operational by the end of that year.
In conclusion, residents of Johns Island can look forward to the new fire station, which promises to bolster safety and emergency response in the area. As preparations move forward, locals are sure to feel a renewed sense of security with this vital addition on the horizon!
