By Ronica Shannon
The Richmond Register
RICHMOND, Ky. — Richmond Fire Station No. 5 was a labor of love.
The 13,500-square-foot building destroyed May 8 in an EF3 tornado was not renovated by commercial or government, but rather by the hands of the city’s own firefighters.
The three firefighters inside the building at the time of the storm took cover in the building’s center, which was a bathroom, said Richmond City Commissioner and Madison County Emergency Medical Services paramedic Mike Brewer.
The tornado ripped the roof from the building.
“After that happened, they were needed for rescue,” Brewer said. “They had to forget what had just happened to them and do what the job requires them to do.”
Both Richmond City Manager David Evans and Richmond Fire Chief Gerald Tatum were shocked to see the damaged fire station.
“I was really surprised to see the damage there, but it’s a building and it can be replaced,” Evans said. “People can’t be replaced.”
Firefighters performed most of the work to renovate the structure, including erecting partitions for a bedroom, kitchen, exercise room and classroom, Tatum said.
“That’s what’s so sad, because they took a lot of pride in that because they did the work in a short period of time,” Evans said. “But, it will be even better when we get it repaired.”
Evans estimated it would take approximately four months to complete the renovation project.
The station will be rebuilt using the same floor plan, Tatum said.
“We’re immediately going to put that fire station back together because it is key to the safety of the people in that area,” Brewer said. “You have the Interstate and north Richmond. It’s a very vital station so we’re going to work quickly.”
The building, at 2249 Enterprise Drive off Duncannon Lane, formerly housed South Park Tool and Die.
The city purchased the building for $950,000. The state approved release of $250,000 in community development funds for the purchase, Evans said.
The city has advertised for construction bids and will be accepting them until Thursday, Evans said.
“We’ll need to gut the inside of it completely,” Evans said.
“Everything will have to be gutted and we’ll have to replace the interior. We’ll have a shell to work from, but the foundation was good, so it won’t be as expensive.”
The city’s insurance company was contacted Friday and should help with some or all expenses, but neither Tatum or Evans are aware of what the work will cost.
One fire truck sustained damage to its hood and windshield, which already has been replaced.
Tatum thanks all those who helped him and other firefighters salvage everything possible, including local business-owners to Richmond Mayor Connie Lawson.
Members of the Lexington Fire Department drove down to help staff the city’s bare fire stations. All firefighters were out on rescue missions, Tatum said.
“It’s wonderful how the communities worked together,” he said.
Station No. 5 temporarily has moved to the Madison County Fire Department on KY 421, and Tatum and the department are working on building a temporary building at the county’s location.
Copyright 2009