SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The dirt will begin moving soon on a new main fire station in South Charleston. Ground was broken for the $2.3 million facility Wednesday morning.
“The current building was built in 1960 and it’s seen its better day,” South Charleston Fire Chief John Taylor said. “This is going to be a more up-to-date modern facility and give us more space. It’s going to be a more user-friendly structure.”
The new building will be constructed at the same location as the current main station right across the street from the public library in downtown South Charleston.
“That’s essential,” Chief Taylor said. “It leaves our central station downtown close to the chemical plants, close to our industrial facilities here and close to the citizens here in the downtown area.”
A construction time-line is incomplete but coverage from the city’s two other fire stations will shift to cover the downtown after the current station is demolished.
South Charleston has constructed new fire stations in the Spring Hill and Montrose communities in recent years.