Belmont fire department opens new station after 127 years
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BELMONT - After years of planning, Belmont Volunteer Fire Department has a new home.
The volunteer fire department celebrated the opening of its new fire station Friday just on the opposite side of Barrister Street, where the old station is located.
Fire chief Bob Mills said his department was dreaming up a new station back in 2019 because of limited space in the old station.
"Trucks got bigger, but the building never did. We can’t get any bigger than what we are over there, and that building was built in 1897," Mills said. "By building this, I look at a 20-year plan. What’s going to happen in 20 years in Belmont County?"
He added that the project cost approximately $5 million that was 90% funded by the Congressional Direct Spending Grant as part of the Fiscal 2023 Omnibus Bill.
Mills said the department originally found out about the grant through former U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson's office.
He said fiscal officer Kaye Hall and grant writer Donna Riggs only had five days between finding out about the grant and the grant's deadline.
After the project introduced by Johnson was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives, former U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, helped guide it through the Senate for final passage.
"We came up a million dollars short, so [former state representative] Don Jones and [Ohio State Sen.] Brian Chavez came up with a million dollars for us," Mills said.
The department purchased 3 acres from the Stern family which had been in the family for 100 years before it was bought in 2023.
Mills said he spoke with Sid Stern about purchasing the property, but he died before the department could purchase it.
He added after Stern's death, his niece Darla Stern inherited the property which she sold to the department.
The new station has room for eight emergency vehicles, a double bay, an upstairs workout area and a mezzanine.
"We got a decon room (decontamination room) now, so you don’t take anything in the living quarters. When you come back from a structure fire, you go in there and strip off all of your stuff," Mills said. "We got a washer and dryer for all your turnout gear. Living quarters, we got for the on-duty crew four separate bedrooms, kitchen, dining room, community room, training room, and four bathrooms."
He added that he is so grateful for the new station and is hopeful for the future of the department.
"Not all volunteer fire departments will survive due to funding and staffing. All the volunteer fire departments have the same problem. It’s hard to get people now, so I’m just trying to get a step ahead. So, if needed, we can combine with other departments, we’re setting it at no cost to anybody because it’s already paid for," Mills said.
He then thanked Joel Stern, Belmont County EMA director David Ivan, Dale Clinedinst,Darla Clinedinst, Goshen Township Trustees, Bill Johnson, former Belmont County Judge Frank Fregiato, Sherrod Brown, USDA Rural Development, Belmont solicitor T.J. Schultz, Don Jones, Belmont Fiscal Officer Ricky Burkhead,
Brian Chavez, Woodsfield Savings Bank, Donna Riggs, Minister Kim McFarland, Belmont County Board of Commissioners, Panhandle Cleaning & Restoration, Belmont County Sheriff’s Office, and Schlepp’s Family Restaurant for all of their help during the project.
He also thanked Hannah Beal Photography for documenting the grand opening.