New Port Huron fire station expected for spring completion

It’s taken decades, but the Port Huron Fire Department is only a few months away from the completion of Station No. 1, a newly constructed fire station that will replace Central Station, the department’s current facility located on River Street.

Port Huron Fire Chief Corey Nicholson says the replacement of the Central Station has been a topic of discussion for many years.

“Central Station, constructed in 1960, is suffering from structural issues due to foundation settling,” he says. “These structural deficits have accelerated in the past few years.”

The new fire station, expected to be completed by March 2024, is located at 1400 10th St. on a patch of land previously owned by the city and leased by the Port Huron Area School District. In total, construction of Station No. 1 will cost about $10.3 million, as approved by the Port Huron City Council, and with funding secured through a bond.  

The new fire station in Port Huron is expected to be completed by March 2024.“The construction of No. 1 represents a significant investment in this particular neighborhood,” Nicholson says. “The new facility is projected to reduce average response times due to its location in a high-density population area of the city.”

Nicholson says the push to put the project into motion began in 2019 when the department commissioned a comprehensive building assessment, space needs evaluation, and emergency response study. It’s not just about a newer, updated space to act as a base for the often unpredictable work of a city fire department; at the end of the day, Nicholson says it’s a boost to public safety.

“It will allow us to be a better trained, more effective department, which ultimately impacts a citizen calling 911 at 3 a.m.,” he says.

Station No. 1 will provide essential amenities necessary for a fully operational fire station such as post-fire decontamination facilities for staff, equipment, and protective clothing, a necessary step to prevent a negative health impact from fire debris, but also additional features Central Station is unable to offer such as the apparatus bay which will allow fire apparatus cabs to be raised indoors.

Rather than a shared sleeping space, Nicholson says staff will also be able to have their own quarters, an important addition considering the days that firefighters often spend on shift.

“Port Huron firefighters work 24-hour shifts and basically spend one-third of their lives during their career span on duty,” he says. “This new facility will allow them to operate more effectively and safely.”

According to Nicholson, the new facility will include a training tower equipped with a 32-seat training area, intended for conducting on-site fire and technical rescue training. This facility will serve the dual purpose of facilitating in-house instruction as well as training sessions in collaboration with other public safety agencies.

For more information about the Port Huron Fire Department, visit porthuronfire.org.