By Chris Durant
The Eureka Times-Standard
FERNDALE, Calif. — After more than a year at the mercy of the elements, the water tender for the Ferndale Volunteer Fire Department has a home.
A new fire hall on Brown Street, directly across the street from the existing fire hall, is now operational and was completely designed and built by members of the department.
“We call it the fire department annex,” said volunteer firefighter Terry O’Reilly, who works for Whitchurch Engineering, one of the firms who helped build the new hall.
O’Reilly said the designer was volunteer firefighter Doug Brown and the construction company who built it is owned by Assistant Chief Dennis Del Biaggio.
“We basically outgrew the established fire hall,” O’Reilly said.
There’s room for up to six vehicles in the new hall.
“It’s that big,” O’Reilly said.
The new hall has 14-foot-high doors to accommodate up to six of the biggest firefighting apparatus available.
“If it’s legal to go on the highway, it’ll fit in our hall,” O’Reilly said.
Three vehicles currently occupy the building.
“It’s for the future,” O’Reilly said. “This building will last 100 years at least.”
The construction was paid for by donations and grants.
“A lot of donations,” O’Reilly said.
A bell from an older fire station that had been in storage for many years has been installed in the new hall.
Currently, the volunteer department has 45 members.
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