The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
City gains occupancy permit, starts move
After a slight delay, the Vermilion Fire Department received its occupancy permit Jan. 15 for its new Fire Station 1 on the south side of town.
The Fire Department presented the permit and keys to the building to Mayor Jim Forthofer and Service Director Tony Valerius, making the station safe for occupancy.
Officials previously had planned to start transitioning equipment and personnel Jan. 4.
Having been through the completed fire station a few times, Forthofer said it meets expectations for a hard-working fire department.
“It is just gorgeous,” he said.
The fire station is the first municipal building built in Vermilion in decades and will start to be filled with equipment from the old Fire Station 1 and 3, located on Ohio Street and Devon Drive, respectively.
“It will take a few months to consolidate equipment from all of the departments,” Forthofer said.
The fire department previously had Fire Station 3 at the safety service center in order to house an engine unit on the south side of the city’s tracks, with Fire Station 2 supplying engines on the north side of town on Overlook Road.
Now, the city will have a full functioning station on the south side with the new station on the corner of Douglas Street and Devon Drive.
Forthofer said it’s also important for the city to hold a public dedication for the new fire station, but
“They deserve it.” — Vermilion Mayor Jim Forthofer
with an ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic, the details of when and how that will take place are up for debate.
A big crowd and a traditional ribbon-cutting most likely will not be possible at this time.
However, another option is to wait until the spring when the pandemic, has hopefully, settled down to hold a larger ceremony.
Regardless, Forthofer commended the entire fire department for their involvement in both the large and small details of the design and build of the building, even down to the electrical outlets.