The new Innisfail fire hall is getting closer to completion.
“It's pretty soon,” said John Syroid, the Innisfail fire chief. He couldn't give an exact move-in date but said there's just a few things left before the department can occupy the space.
“Just finishing up some painting,” Syroid said. There is also some cleanup, cement work and “a few odds and ends” that need to be wrapped up.
The new fire department is a revamp of the old library building on 49 Street. Syroid estimated work has been going on for about eight months on the project.
In addition to the sharp-looking exterior, Syroid said the interior will be a significant improvement over the current location.
The new building offers more room, a common area, enough room for “proper” offices, bathrooms, change rooms and a training centre, Syroid said.
“We're full here … we have equipment sitting outside,” Syroid said of the current fire hall. The new one will have enough room to store the equipment inside.
Syroid figured the Innisfail fire department has been based out of its current location, attached to the town officer, for about 38 years.
The tender for the building was awarded in September 2011 to Johnston Builders Ltd. Construction was hoped to be finished by the end of May 2012.
The tender awarded by the town was for $1,782,850.
