West Deer breaks ground for new fire station

The conversion of an existing building into West Deer’s newest fire station is underway.

More than a dozen people gathered Wednesday afternoon outside the building at 4360 Gibsonia Road.

West Deer Fire Company No. 3 Chief Josh Wiegand thanked elected officials and the community for their help in securing the building. He also gave credit to Mars Bank, which helped the department finance the building.

“If you would’ve asked me if this was possible two years ago,” Wiegand said, “I would’ve said no.”

Wiegand said the previous owner of the former Krigger & Co. building envisioned the facility being transformed into a fire station.

The fire company recently received a $250,000 grant from the state Gaming Economic Development Tourism Fund in January for its station location.

State Sen. Lindsey Williams and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, who both helped get government funding, spoke at the groundbreaking, as did West Deer Supervisor Shirley Hollibaugh.

“This new station will make an enormous difference for West Deer,” Williams said.

Aaron Skrbin, fire company president, said they are hopeful construction will begin in late summer to allow for the fire company to move into the building by the fall or winter.

A tour was conducted to show visitors the plans for the facility’s layout. The fire station will have office space, a community social hall, a classroom for community training classes and train firefighters, and a room for firefighters to mingle and relax.

Wiegand said plans include the installation of bunks and showers on the mezzanine deck.

The department had called its building at 4372 Gibsonia Road home for 58 years before acquiring this new facility in September. Wiegand said the existing building was becoming too small to fit the department’s needs.

Firefighters were sharing lockers, and the garages couldn’t fit some of the fire company’s equipment, he said.

The department has 100 members, including 40 firefighters and 18 medical personnel.

“It was very important for us to get this facility,” he said.

Convert in 3 phases

The department will be renovating the building in three phases. Skrbin said some demolition work has been done before moving into the first phase, which involves adding garage doors and making the building usable for their needs.

The grant will pay for the second phase when they expand their apparatus bay. That will house fire vehicles and will enclose a large canopy in the rear of the building. The last phase will be an expansion for bunk rooms and showers.

“We are eager to get the project done and moving,” he said.

Skrbin said the space will be crucial for recruitment efforts and retaining firefighters. He also said it will greatly improve response time and operations.

“It’s a great opportunity for the fire company and community to continue to serve for years to come,” he said.