New Brunswick fire station anticipated to open this fall

BRUNSWICK — Brunswick's new fire station at 1094 Hadcock Road is nearing completion as construction enters its final stages. According to the construction team, the project is about 80 percent complete. Final touches are scheduled to start soon, like flooring, light fixtures and landscaping. The goal is to have substantial completion of the building in mid to late October, the construction team stated. The fire department will start moving in once the final inspections are complete. "This stage is the time where we pay particular attention to detail," Fire Chief Greg Glauner said. "This is a custom-built fire station like no other. Every trade here, in every aspect, has been so meticulous in making everything exactly the way we want it." Unlike the new station, Brunswick's current fire stations were not made with a full-time fire department in mind, he said. "It was never designed for a diesel fire apparatus," Glauner said. "That fear of contracting cancer or being exposed to carcinogens on a daily basis doesn't make it conducive for us to operate from that building. It's cramped, and it's small." Plans for the new station include: Space to house the department's ladder truck. Dedicated living and bathroom spaces for both men and women in the department. A place for firefighters to decontaminate after a call that is separate from their living space to limit exposure to carcinogens. Training facilities and a public meeting room, which can be used for events like fire prevention classes and blood drives. "We are going to have probably 4,500 alarms this year that we're dispatched to," Glauner said. "They need an area where they can decompress, where they can cook their meals and where they can rest, so that they're fresh for the next alarm." The new station should also help retain firefighters and attract the best candidates, he said. "The numbers for people signing up for tests for fire and police has drastically been reduced over the course of time," Glauner said. "I think that there's a buzz about this new station and a buzz that we have a facility that's going to be accommodating for our members. We're finding a lot more interest from a lot more candidates." The $12 million bond issue to build the new fire station passed in May 2023, and ground was broken for the project in May 2024. Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.