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Big Emmaus Central Station changes seen at renovation open house

Published December 22. 2023 07:14AM
by JIM MARSH Special to The Press

Five million dollars worth of renovations and expansion at the Central Station for fire and EMS services at 100 N. Sixth St., Emmaus, brought the 43-year-old structure up to modern standards and transformed the ways first responders will operate to serve Emmaus and surrounding communities.

The substantial changes were shown Dec. 9 at a rededication and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the revamped structure. Host John Price, emergency services director and fire chief, said the revamp was long overdue and will pay dividends for fire and EMS services headquartered at the Central Station.

Complete renovations of the structure include new crew quarters where fire ambulance crews operate 24-hours a day throughout the year. Separate bunk rooms for male and female responders provide overnight accommodations. A new kitchen area serves emergency crew needs and a 3,600-square-foot addition allowed for construction of new administrative offices and a new training/meeting room.

A must-have item when planning began for the refurbished building included a dedicated gear room where firefighters change from street clothes to “bunker gear” as they respond to calls. Previously the gear stowage/changing area was located in a hallway.

The renovation was part of a larger $10 million-plus borough project begun in 2021 that completely updated borough hall located along Jubilee Street, added improvements to the adjacent police station and the Central Station renovation.

While the Central Station was being redone, fire and ambulance administrative offices and fire and ambulance quarters were temporarily located in two prefab trailers put in place behind the building. Fire engines were staged in a parking area behind the building.

Firefighters and EMS personnel served as tour guides for visitors at the open house. Mission BBQ of Whitehall served pulled pork sliders and macaroni and cheese for those attending.

The first responders who will serve out of the structure gave enthusiastic thumbs up to the renovations.

One responder said, “This is a whole new era for us.”

“Mission accomplished,” Mayor Lee Ann Gilbert exclaimed.

PRESS PHOTOS BY JIM MARSH Emmaus Fire Department firefighters salute as the department's honor guard raises the American flag at an open house Dec. 9 to unveil to the public an extensive renovation of the fire station building.
John Price, director of emergency services and fire chief for the Borough of Emmaus, tells open house visitors Dec. 9 that firefighters worked out of two house trailers behind the fire station as extensive renovations took place for several months.
PRESS PHOTOS BY JIM MARSH Emmaus Borough Mayor Lee Ann Gilbert and John Price, director of emergency services and fire chief, cut a ribbon to make official the “in service” designation of the fire department's extensively renovated central station for fire and ambulance services. Story and additional photos appear on Page A2.
Pulled pork sliders and macaroni and cheese comfort food served by Mission Barbecue, of Whitehall, is well received at the open house Dec. 9 at the newly renovated Emmaus Central Station emergency services facility at 100 N. Sixth St.
A “must” on Emmaus Fire Department firefighters' wish list at the start of planning for the renovation of the Central Station emergency services building is a separate gear locker room for firefighter turnout gear. Before the renovation, gear was stowed in a building hallway.