By Paul Wilcoxen
The Southern Illinoisan
HERRIN, Ill. — The trucks have been rolling out of Herrin’s new fire station for months, but on Friday, the public finally got a chance to step inside.
City leaders, firefighters and residents gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house, marking the department’s formal introduction of the modern facility to the community it serves.
Herrin community welcomes new fire station
The station replaces a nearly 50-year-old building on Park Avenue that was originally built for two or three firefighters per shift. With the department now staffing five per shift and managing more equipment, the old space had long outlived its usefulness.
Herrin Mayor Steve Frattini said the project took years of coordination between city officials, architects, contractors and department staff.
“The location here is strategic to our footprint as a city, our growth patterns, both population and the assets,” Frattini said.
Fire Chief Sean Priddy said the department has been operating from the new station for several months while adjusting to the space and preparing it for Friday’s event.
“We’ve been in it for a few months, trying to live in the space and figure out what else we need,” Priddy said. “We know the community wanted to come and see the building.”
The open house gave residents a chance to meet firefighters, tour the station and explore features the old facility lacked — including a conference and training room and dedicated areas for rescue simulations.
The former station, built in 1973, faced serious structural and environmental issues. Mold, roof leaks and failing HVAC systems made renovation difficult.
Engineering studies later confirmed that bringing the building up to code would cost more than starting fresh.
The new station was built with modern standards and future growth in mind. It includes expanded living quarters, wider bays for apparatus and safety upgrades designed to reduce firefighters’ exposure to harmful contaminants — a growing concern in the profession.
The station’s design also supports continued training and development, featuring a ventilated decontamination zone and a bay area where crews can simulate ladder rescues and basement fires.
“It’s really exciting to finally let people come and see what we’re so proud of,” Priddy said. “The community’s always supported us, and now they get to see the kind of facility that support helped build.”
The Herrin Chamber of Commerce helped organize the event. Chamber President Rhiannon Storm thanked the city and the fire department for opening the building to the public.
“This beautiful new firehouse is something to celebrate,” Storm said.
After the ceremony, tours continued throughout the day as children climbed aboard fire trucks and residents walked the halls, getting a firsthand look at how Herrin’s fire department is preparing to meet the city’s future needs.
“It’s been a long time coming, but this station is something that will serve the community well for decades to come,” Priddy said.
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