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.
CONSTRUCTION OF the Centre Hall Fire Company’s new fire station is progressing on schedule. The company expects to take possession of the building in late April or early May of this year, with a public open house planned for June 19.
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 installed last week, 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.
Hockenberry said the original plans for the building were for a two-story building, 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.
