Construction of Centre Hall Fire Station Progressing

CENTRE HALL — Construction of the Centre Hall Fire Company’s new fire hall is proceeding on schedule, according to Fire Chief Harry Hockenberry.

The 14,000-square-foot facility is located along Witmer Avenue on the east end of the borough. Hockenberry said the station features eight equipment bays, a large meeting room, a fully equipped kitchen and a firemen’s lounge, all in a single-story building. The general contractor for the structure is ECI Construction, LLC.

The building is completely framed up and enclosed, and interior work, such as drywall installation, electrical and plumbing work continues. The large doors for the equipment bays were recently installed, completely enclosing the structure, and shielding workers from the winter weather.

Hockenberry expects the fire company to take possession of the building in late April or early May of this year. He said a public open house is planned for June 19.

Original plans called for a two-story building, Hockenberry said, but were changed to a single-story design.

“There are no stairs anywhere in the building,” he said. “It will be great for the seniors and the handicapped.”

The new station is the result of nearly 11 years of planning and fundraising. Hockenberry noted that all the funds for construction came from fundraisers held by the fire company, and there were no government grants involved.

The existing fire hall on North Pennsylvania Avenue (route 144) was built in 1952 and served the needs of the company well at that time, and for nearly seven decades since.

An addition was added to the rear of the building some years later to house more equipment, but the fire company has outgrown the structure.

Hockenberry said the building has been sold to the Centre Hall Borough.

Sam Stitzer is a contributor to the Centre County Gazette