By DAN TELVOCK
A second fire and rescue station has opened this month in Spotsylvania County.
Career and volunteer medics and firefighters will work out of Station 10 on Gordon Road.
More than 100 volunteers and local officials celebrated the opening July 14 with a flag raising and cookout.
The three-bay, 15,028-square-foot station cost $3.9 million. Warren Flynn Construction was the chief contractor.
The funding comes from the $33 million fire and rescue bond referendum in 2001.
Two medical units and a fire unit will run calls from the station. Chancellor Volunteer Fire and Rescue will provide weekend and evening coverage.
"The volunteers are very excited about the new station," said Kevin Dillard, the administrative chief at Chancellor. "The continued commitment from the county to ensure that the fire and EMS system has state-of-the-art facilities and equipment continues to motivate our people."
Unlike Company 4 off Falcon Drive, Station 10 opened just a few months late of its February schedule.
Company 4, which officially opened early this month, was late by almost two years.
County officials said there were numerous construction flaws with Company 4, which is why it was delayed. On July 8, supervisors voted to bar the construction company, Manning Construction, and the bond insurer, Travelers, from doing work in Spotsylvania.
Deputy County Administrator Doug Barnes had said that new rules were enacted because of the problems with Company 4, one of which requires winning bidders to be prequalified.
County officials hope to open a third fire and rescue station on Courthouse Road by the end of the month. Staff is also searching for property to build a new station on State Route 3 to replace Company 5.
Fire and Rescue Chief Chris Eudailey said once HCA's Spotsylvania Medical Center opens in the Massaponax area in late 2009, it will be a priority to build a new station in that area.
Dan Telvock: 540/374-5438
Email: dtelvock@freelancestar.com
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