Oskaloosa Voters To Decide On Fire Station Future

The Oskaloosa Fire Department as pictured here in 1912. (submitted photo)

Oskaloosa, Iowa – A pounding on the door as a neighbor wakes you up in the middle of the night yelling that your house is on fire. Off in the distance, you start to hear the cry of sirens as emergency responders start to make their way to you.

Maybe you are driving to your favorite local restaurant when an intense sound all of a sudden surrounds you. The world is spinning and debris is flying around you. There is smoke and steam, and the cry for help. You have just been in a traffic accident and now your in trouble and trapped. In short order, a friendly voice is talking with you, informing you of what steps are being taken to free you from your mangled car.

The fire department of any community serves a valuable service, by not only protecting your life and property, but helping to protect you from disaster that may be impacting your neighbor. A service most of us never want to have to use, but thankful for when needed.

An example of the now limited space within the Oskaloosa Fire Station. This view of the far east bay shows how much room is available between the front of the fire truck and the bay door.

Today’s fire departments have many jobs besides fighting fires and rescuing people from traffic accidents, and the job continues to evolve as the needs of their community change.

That service in Oskaloosa and how it’s delivered to its residents is at a crossroads of sort. Oskaloosa residents are heading to the poll to decide if a bond measure should go forward that would help rebuild a part of the fire department that was lost when its second building was demolished due to structural deficiencies.

Since that time, firefighters have consolidated as many pieces of gear into the century old structure that most people recognize as the fire station. Other gear sits outside in the weather, and during the winter months one truck had to have its water removed in order to prevent the tank from breaking.

The view of the far east bay at the Oskaloosa Fire Station. This gives an idea of how much room is available to firefighters while on duty and attending to the apparatus floor.

Looking into historical records, the current fire station was built in 1909, as a 2 story structure, making it one of the oldest continual working firehouses west of the Mississippi River. A 3rd story was added when the Oskaloosa City Hall was built near the Oskaloosa Fire Station, and the two structures were then combined.

In 1909, the then 2-story structure was built with the horse-drawn apparatus in mind. The office area that the Fire Chief utilizes was the original space used to store hay for the horses. Those horse drawn apparatus were much smaller than today’s equipment, which is much larger than architects 100 years ago could have envisioned. Trucks carry more water and more gear, making them longer and wider than ever before.

Currently, firefighters are required to open the doors to the fire station to do routine maintenance on the trucks every morning. Checking the oil in the trucks requires opening the door in front of the truck. Cleaning, organizing and repairing equipment, or even training requires trucks be moved and parked along the street.

On Tuesday, Oskaloosa voters will decide if a bond initiative to update the current facility is something they want to do.

The project will cost taxpayers over 3.2 million dollars. Those funds will go towards reconstructing, enlarging, equipping and furnishing the first station.

The addition to the current station would add 16,050 square feet of new and renovated space. The cost to taxpayers would be $3.33 per month on average for $80,000 in assessed value. The debt is scheduled to be paid back within 15 years, keeping the current debt service load at or near the existing level as today.

The Oskaloosa Fire Department is hosting an open house today, Friday, October 31, 2014 from 4pm to 7pm. It will give an opportunity for Oskaloosa residents to tour the current facility and learn more about their fire department.