Christiana Volunteer Fire Department will expand their Sledge Road headquarters to include a new bay, training room, offices and restrooms.

PHOTO ABOVE: From left are Vice President Patrick McMurtray, President Dewayne Sadler, County Commissioner Joe Frank Jernigan, Mayor Ernest G. Burgess, Fire Chief Mike Adams, Assistant Fire Chief Mike Tapp, Rutherford Fire and Rescue Chief Larry Farley, Retired Chief Tony Snook, who donated the land for the fire station, Treasurer Tonya Herman, Chaplain Randy Cummins and board member Cary Norris. The expected $100,000 expansion is funded by donations from Christiana residents.

More Information (Previously on WGNS RADIO):

Community donations to Christiana Volunteer Fire Department allowed firefighters to expand their headquarters to house a tanker truck and a training room at the Sledge Road station. Groundbreaking for the expanded headquarters will be at 4:00 o'clock this coming Wednesday afternoon (12/7/2016) at 4031 Sledge Road.

CVFD Board President Dewayne Sadler estimates $100,000 project includes the addition of offices and restrooms in the 1,200-square foot expansion.

The fire department serves southern Rutherford County. The present station houses two fire engines and a brush truck.

MORE INFORMATION:

Board member and firefighter Cary Norris said the new bay will permit firefighters to store the tanker that hauls water to fires.

"Water supply is a challenge," Norris said.

Sadler said the expansion will give firefighters more flexibility to store vehicles.

"We'd like to thank the community for their support," Sadler said. "We'd also like to thank Mayor Ernest Burgess, Deputy to the Mayor Jeff Davidson and County Commissioner Joe Frank Jernigan for their assistance with this project.

"We also would like to thank Tony Snook for having the forethought that Christiana needed another station which he donated the land," Sadler said. "Tony also served as chief for 25 years and was a founding member. The building was built in 1989."

Fire Chief Mike Adams and Assistant Chief Mike Tapp thank Rutherford County Fire and Rescue Chief Larry Farley and his department for supporting the expansion, training firefighters and helping to move the department forward.

Norris thanked the board and volunteer firefighters for their efforts in developing the expansion to provide improved fire service to county residents.

"With the county partnership and continued donations from our community, the Christiana Volunteer Fire Department has been able to fully fund this project to serve our community," Norris said.