GLEN WALTER, Ontario – The Glen Walter branch of the South Glengarry Fire Service celebrated the opening of their new fire hall on Saturday, June 25. After ten years of effort, the community of Glen Walter now has a fire station to better meet their needs.
“We outgrew the old station,” said Assistant Deputy Chief Brian Poirier.”The old building was tight and congested and this new station has bigger doors and is right in the village. This new station is really going to improve our ability to respond to calls out here.”
This station is about more than just new digs for the firefighters. The new fire hall is an important part of providing better fire service to the whole area.
“There are a lot of new homes being built in this part of Glen Walter and this station puts us closer to the 401 as well so we can better respond to emergencies on the highway,” Poirier said.
Located at 6650 Bray Street in Glen Walter, the new fire hall is two kilometers from the old site. The new building currently has three fire trucks attached to it, but can accommodate up to five.
The 25 firefighters who will be stationed at the hall will also have more room for indoor training both downstairs and in the open and spacious upstairs room.
A new feature of this hall is an emergency button which activates warning lights at the intersection of Bray Street and Old Highway 2 to warn traffic when the trucks are leaving the station in a hurry.
Construction on the new fire station started last summer and cost $1.1 million to complete. The Department is now looking towards Williamstown as the next community to receive a new fire hall.
Township council and members of the fire services were on hand to celebrate the opening of the new station.
“I want to congratulate council on the opening of this fire station,” said Scott Hayes, the Fire Prevention Officer for South Glengarry. “This is something the community can use for years and years to come.”
