New fire hall planned for Summerside

Proposed site includes two acres off Ryan Street

SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. – City officials here have agreed to buy two acres of land off Ryan Street for a longtalked-about new fire hall.

Councillors voted unanimously to accept a tentative purchase agreement with

Pan American Properties Ltd., the details of which have not been released, at a June 20 meeting.

The property is an empty lot between Ryan Street and the former Holland College vocational school.

There are still a few steps that need to be taken before the deal is finalized, including an official survey of the property, but city leadership and its fire chief are hailing the deal as a long-overdue and much-needed step forward on the file.

“It’s pretty exciting news,” said Fire Chief Ron Enman.

“The ball’s on the downward roll now and it’s going to gain its own momentum from here. It’s been a long while coming.”

The city said it chose this location out of several that were submitted as potential sites because of its centralized location. The property has nearby access to most of Summerside’s major collector roads, which will make response times quicker for not only fire trucks, but for volunteers trying to get to the station and their equipment.

Once the survey is complete and the sale finalized, the city will issue a request for proposals for the design and construction of the new hall. The final price tag of the project will depend on what design is chosen.

Construction is tentatively scheduled to start sometime in 2023.

The building that is being replaced, Station 1 on Foundry Street, is more than 60 years old and is past its optimal service life.

The structure has routinely suffered damage in severe weather events, has lingering issues with water damage that has forced the closure of some sections, and even its basic amenities, like appropriate shower facilities, no longer meet the needs of a modern volunteer fire department.

Mayor Basil Stewart noted that Station 1 is one of the last major municipal facilities in Summerside that hasn’t had a relatively recent update or replacement. So to finally see it get its due is an important day for the community’s future.

“(The current building) is just not suitable in this day and age, especially with the growth that we’re having,” said Stewart.

“(The new building) has to be built looking ahead into the future, something for the next 50 or 60 years. That’s the plan.”

Coun. Barb Ramsay, who chairs the fire and police service committees, also expressed her relief at the advancement of the project.

“I couldn’t be more pleased,” said Ramsay.

“We’ve been waiting for a location for this new fire hall for a very long time. We’ve worked on this time and time (again) and day in and day out – and I’m just thrilled that we finally have a location.”