Company to begin work on new $3.5M firehouse
Big things are coming down the pike for the Limerick Fire Company as construction on its new facility gets underway in just a few short weeks.
The company currently operates out of its 390 W. Ridge Pike facility built in 1984. That facility is in need of significant updates to maintain the efficiencies of the company, and embrace the modern challenges the company faces. Several studies conducted over the past few years have determined that a renovation of the existing building would be cost prohibitive.
That’s why it opted to move for- ward with the $3.5 million construction of a new facility, built over the footprint of the existing building.
“It’s exciting but very busy,” said Tom Walters, Limerick Fire Company president. “Through this process it ended up being significantly more than seven digits to remodel the existing building than it cost to tear down and build a brand new building. That’s why we’re building a brand new building.”
The ground breaking ceremony for the new facility will be held Oct. 29 from 10-11 a.m. Among those in attendance will be state Sen. John Rafferty, R-44th Dist., state Rep. Tom Quigley, R-146th Dist., as well as township supervi-
sors and staff and other dignitaries. Demolition of the existing fire house will take place on or about Nov. 5.
The new two-story, 20,000- square-foot building will be equipped with five drive through apparatus bays. Included in the overall square footage is space for the existing members to sleep while staffing the station during weather events, or other emergencies. Other vital spaces will include training and study rooms for the over 70 active firefighters to meet mandated training certifications, equipment and radio rooms, along with administrative offices. The new station will also provide accommodations tomaintain emergency medical services staffing provided by Trappe Ambulance Company, and a space to support the township emergency operations center.
Walters said the goal is to create a space built for the next three or four decades. A renovated fire house had them questioning the department’s longevity.
“Will we get what we want for the future? Maybe five to 10 years,” he said. “But not 30-40 years down the road.”
That’s why a brand new building was ultimately the best course of action, he said.
As the new fire station is being constructed, fire protection will remain uninterrupted. The company will operate out of two temporary locations, behind the township public works building and out of a building located at the former Teleflex property on Lewis Road. Coverage by the township’s other fire company, Linfield, and other mutual aid partners will continue without change during this time.
The new fire station is a result of the strategic planning efforts between the two fire companies and the township, and is part of a new cooperative capital funding program. The program is intended to preserve the high level services that exist today, and accommodate future needs that will be required as the Limerick community continues to grow.
Facility, apparatus, and equipment needs are critical to public safety, and have been identified as the most significant need of our all-volunteer fire fighter force.
Walters thanked the township officials involved in the capital program to make the new facility come to fruition.
“We are a very, very fortunate fire company,” he said.