By Jessie Wagoner
The Emporia Gazette
EMPORIA, Kan. — As Emporia modernizes its public safety infrastructure, city leaders say recent investments in Fire Station 1 and Fire Station 2 reflect a broader shift toward firefighter health, safety and long-term sustainability — priorities that look very different in 2025 than they did decades ago.
Fire Station 1 replaces an 85-year-old building that had undergone only piecemeal remodels over the years, while Fire Station 2, now 47 years old, last received a renovation about 15 years ago. City officials said neither facility met modern standards for safety, efficiency or firefighter wellness.
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Rather than treating the Fire Station 2 project as a separate standalone effort, the city chose to move forward under the same umbrella contract used for Fire Station 1. Officials explained that the work is structured as a change order — known as a Guaranteed Maximum Price amendment, or GMAX — instead of a second contract. This allows the city to maintain a single set of insurance and bonding documents while still tracking each station’s costs separately.
“So ultimately, we already have our contract,” Fire Chief Brandon Beck explained, noting that Fire Station 1 and Fire Station 2 each have separate pay applications and job numbers, but remain covered under one agreement. The approach simplifies administration while protecting the city’s financial interests.
The strategy has also created an opportunity to reinvest savings back into firefighter safety. Officials reported that construction of Fire Station 1 came in under budget, with approximately $200,000 to $250,000 saved through unused allowances and contingency funds. Those savings are being rolled into Fire Station 2 as an additional financial buffer rather than increasing the overall contract value.
“That will be a change order to Station 2, but not to our overall contract value,” Cocking told commissioners. Using a round figure of $16 million for the total contract, officials said shifting funds internally adds protection for the remodel without increasing the city’s financial obligation.
Fire Station 2’s budget includes roughly $280,000 combined in allowances and contingency, funds that are intended to provide flexibility as construction progresses. Any unused portion of those funds will ultimately return to the city.
Beyond cost efficiency, the remodel reflects evolving best practices in fire station design, particularly related to firefighter health. Cocking and Beck emphasized the importance of modern “red, yellow and green” zoning concepts, which are designed to limit the spread of toxins from contaminated gear into living and sleeping quarters.
Research over the past 10 to 15 years has reshaped how fire departments approach station design. Firefighters were once encouraged to keep bunker gear close at all times, even resting in contaminated clothing after calls. Today, departments prioritize decontamination, showers and separation of gear to reduce long-term exposure to cancer-causing substances.
“Trying to protect our firefighters’ lives as much as possible by keeping the toxins out of the sleeping quarters and out of the quarters where they spend time” has become central to the project, Cocking said.
The remodel also addresses mental health, which officials described as just as critical as physical safety. Fire stations function as a second home for firefighters, and the redesigned space is intended to support recovery and resilience.
Design elements include open workout areas, improved living quarters and spaces where firefighters can decompress after emergency calls. Officials said the goal is to create an environment that supports both readiness and rest.
“If this turns out to be half as good as the new facility across the street, it’s going to be a great investment in our community and the lives of our firefighters,” outgoing city commissioner Tyler Curtis said while discussing the project’s long-term impact.
Commissioners ultimately approved GMAX 8.2, authorizing $6,271,240 for the remodel and addition to Fire Station 2, including allowances totaling $149,278 and contractor contingency of $136,405. The vote was unanimous.
Financing for both fire stations and a new aerial fire truck will come through a general obligation bond issuance, which city officials said will be paid using existing reserves in the bond and interest fund. The plan does not require a tax increase.
According to city finance staff, older bridge bonds have been paid off, allowing excess funds to accumulate. With a reported surplus of about $5 million, the city is positioned to make bond payments for the next decade while investing in facilities expected to serve firefighters and residents for generations.
Construction on Fire Station 2 is expected to begin in mid-February, following completion of punch-list work and move-in activities at Fire Station 1 — marking the next step in Emporia’s effort to bring its fire facilities into alignment with the demands and realities of modern firefighting.
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