Blade Vol. Fire Co. Seeking $600K for Station Repairs
Image Courtesy of Blades Volunteer Fire Company
BLADES, Del. – The Blades Volunteer Fire Company (BVFC) is providing the community with an update — and a request — regarding their 10-year-old fire station.
Company officials say since moving into their current station in Oct. 2016, BVFC has experienced numerous ongoing issues related to the building’s HVAC and ventilation systems. Persistent condensation issues have left the building with damaged light fixtures, soggy ceiling tiles and insulation, as well as repeated air conditioning failures. As a result, GMB engineers began investigating these issues and determined that major repairs to the building are necessary.
The needed repairs include the removal and replacement of two large sections of the station roof. New insulation will be installed beneath those sections to improve long-term performance of the structure. Additionally, engineers have recommended the installation of a Dedicated Outdoor Air System to properly condition the air space and prevent more condensation in the future.
BVFC says they have elected to move forward with the recommendations of the engineers and have selected a construction company through an open bid process. Yet, the road ahead is long, as the total cost of the repairs is estimated to exceed $600,000.
“These repairs are not optional. Our station houses employees and emergency personnel 24 hours a day who are responsible for protecting our community and assisting neighboring communities when needed,” BVFC officials said in an open letter posted to social media. “Preserving this facility is critical to maintaining emergency response operations and protecting essential infrastructure within our community.”
As a result of these unforeseen expenses, the company plans to increase fundraising efforts to help offset the cost of repairs and improvements. Officials say it remains a priority to be transparent with the community regarding why fundraising efforts are necessary and how crowd-sourced funds will be used.
“We appreciate the continued support from our community, members, and donors as we work to maintain a safe and reliable facility to serve Blades and surrounding areas for years to come,” BVFC officials concluded.
If you would like to support BVFC, you can take part in their Fundraiser Night at Texas Roadhouse in Blades, where the company will receive 10 percent of every order presented alongside a fundraising flyer.
