The city of Allentown’s new East Side Fire Station is open. Mayor Ed Pawlowski, Interim Fire Chief Bob Kudlak, retired Fire Chief Bob Scheirer and members of City Council cut a ribbon today to officially open the North Irving Street facility. Some 75 persons attended including active and retired firefighters and neighborhood residents.

“This new station is a substantial improvement over the old facility,” said Pawlowski. “It is better for the firefighters and the equipment. It also has women’s quarters which were lacking in the old station.”

The new station accommodates up to eight firefighters and two paramedics.

“The old station was pretty much a garage with very tight living quarters,” said Kudlak. “The workout area for the men consisted of a treadmill that sat between the firefighters’ beds.”

“The fire department has seen a number of improvements over the past several years, but this is the best,” said Scheirer. “The men of this department will appreciate this for years to come.”

The original station, built in 1953, was closed in September 2011 because of structural damage. An investigation revealed that the building was on the site of an old drainage swale that deteriorated causing footer failure and walls to develop serious cracks. There is now more than 40 yards of concrete under the new footer.

The three-bay, two-story station was constructed for approximately $1.95 million. 
 
The new building was designed by W2A Design Group of Allentown.

Boyle Construction of Allentown managed the project for the city.

UGI donated appliances for the station.

The fire department will begin moving into the new station immediately.

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