Station One Remodel Groundbreaking Ceremony
October 23, 2009
In 1975, the Jollyville volunteer firefighters started out in a small garage on Pond Springs Road in northwest Austin. In the mid-1980s, as the area grew, so did the fire station. The volunteer firefighters moved from their original building, still in use today by a private company, to a new station on Anderson Mill Road.
Michael Belohlavy, Commissioner Lisa Birkman, Mack Sherrod, Kenny Schnell, Adam Bryant, Darryl Phillips, Assistant Chief Brian Quinlan (watching) and Fire Chief John Kiracofe at the groundbreaking for the expansion of Fire Station No. 1 in September.
Now that station, Fire Station No. 1, located near the intersection of Pond Springs Road and Anderson Mill Road, is ready to grow again.
“Both the stations we operate out of were never intended to be full-service, live-in stations,” Jollyville Fire Chief John Kiracofe said of the department’s volunteer heritage. “We’ve just had to make do. Now, with this expansion, we’ll have living quarters.”
The Jollyville Fire Department, Williamson County and Emergency Services District No. 1 broke ground on the station expansion project mid-September. The expanded station will house the Jollyville Fire Department and the Williamson County Emergency Medical Services, said Lisa Birkman, Williamson County commissioner for Precinct 1.
Fire Station No. 1 serves the area surrounding the station in southern Williamson County, including the Springwoods and North Austin No. 1 municipal utility districts, Milwood, Hunters Chase, Rattan Creek and Forest North neighborhoods and adjoining county areas. The expansion to the station includes new living quarters for the EMS and fire personnel, a classroom, new offices and new bays to house fire trucks and ambulances.
The existing space will also be renovated to create living quarters for Williamson County EMS Medic 22, which shares the station with the firefighters.
“They don’t have any living quarters or educational spaces now,” said Connie Watson, public affairs manager for Williamson County.
She said the ESD and the county jointly funded the expansion and renovation. The project costs just under $1 million. Construction is projected to take five months for completion.
While the county provides the facilities, the JFD provides the manpower, Kiracofe said.
According to JFD’s website, the station expansion was made necessary since the City of Austin annexed Anderson Mill MUD, where the former EMS station was located. That annexation took effect Jan. 1. The expansion is also in response to high growth and additional demand for services in the area, Watson said.
Kiracofe said the officials were hoping to have the expansion completed before the annexation.
“But it’s been a longer process than I thought it would be,” he said. “We’re just so excited it’s finally happening.”
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