Jackson firefighters dedicate new building

More than a year of firefighters' labor came to fruition Thursday as the Jackson Fire Department held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open its new administrative building.

Twelve full-time and 16 part-time firefighters spent much of their spare time between calls over the last 14 months remodeling a building that used to be a carpet store.

The building has been owned by the city for decades, but had previously been leased out. With direction of chief Brad Golden and the favor of the city government, the city took over the building.

The firefighters, with some help from other city departments, replaced plumbing and electric and totally remodeled the place, which includes two offices, a large training room, a conference room and a reception area.

"There were a couple of guys with enough construction experience who could tell guys like me what to do," Steve Baugh, the fire department's public information officer, said after the ceremony.

Firefighters say the experience brought the department closer together.

"At this stage, it's brought us together like a family," Baugh said. "Sometimes we might have fought like cats and dogs, but today we're walking six inches off the ground. We're very proud of this building."

Golden said the project did bring the guys closer together, something they can take out in the field.

Donated components

Many components of the building were donated by area businesses. ARI Industries donated the flag pole; Rubbermaid donated some cabinets and Beussink Brothers Woodworks donated some countertops. Other businesses contributed other items.

The ceremony was flanked by numerous city and county officials and was highlighted by the presenting and posting of colors by the local Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion posts.

Golden also presented the firefighters with plaques from the state's Missouri Interagency Clandestine Lab Task Force and the city of Jackson.

The task force's recognition was for the department's involvement in the disposal of certain chemicals recovered in drug busts. The department's involvement in the disposal saves the state a lot of money and gives the department weekly hazardous material training, Baugh said.

bmiller@semissourian.com

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