Station to be named for first black female chief

The city of East Point will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the Chief Rosemary Roberts Cloud Fire Station & Safety Training Facility 10 a.m. Friday at the location of its new facility at 2222 Ben Hill Road, according to a news release.

On April 2, 2002, East Point made history by naming Cloud as its first black female fire chief in the city and in the United States. She was the fire chief in East Point for 12 years before retiring in 2015.

Under her command, she convened teams of firefighters to create and implement public education and fire prevention programs. As a result of her leadership, the East Point Fire Department aggressively enforces fire codes, conducts detailed inspections and eagerly attends local school and neighborhood meetings to showcase their fire prevention programs. Chief Cloud’s career in fire services spans 30 years.

The Chief Rosemary Roberts Cloud Fire Station & Safety Training Facility is a $3.25 million project. The 12,000-square-foot facility will consist of four engine bays. An installation manufactured burn facility will also serve as a training location for firefighters. Construction is expected to be finished in the winter of 2019.