Volunteers press county for funds
By Alexandra Bogdanovic
Ed Hauswald knows it's a lot to ask, but he also knows that a little bit of money will go a long way towards the construction of four more firehouses in Fauquier County.
Hauswald is the chairman of the Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association's Capital Improvements Committee. He and VFRA President Tom Marable appealed to the board of supervisors for funding at a work session March 20.
"We recognize that these are extraordinarily difficult times for the county,” Hauswald said. “But we also think everyone sees the need to continue with the construction [of these firehouses]."
The so-called "Phase II" projects include construction of new facilities and/or renovation of existing facilities in Orlean, Upperville, The Plains and Bealeton.
In a best-case scenario for the VFRA, the supervisors would approve a 1 cent increase in the Fire and Rescue levy, which would generate approximately $1.2 million.
"One cent funds Phase II and allows an immediate start of Orlean," Marable told the supervisors last week. "[It also] allows continued progression of engineering work and construction of the balance of Phase II stations."
Marable explained that the start dates will be staggered so one project is done at a time over the next four years.
The total cost for all four projects is $17.5 million. In addition to county funds, the work will be paid for with loans from the United States Department of Agriculture and other sources.
Each project at a glance
VFRA officials say the improvements at each station are necessary so volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services personnel can respond to calls from the station instead of doing so from home.
Ultimately that will help first-responders meet their stated goal of a 10-minute response to calls in their primary coverage area.
Fielding a question from Center District Supervisor Terry Nyhous, Hauswald said the committee used several criteria to evaluate which facilities need to be completely rebuilt and which ones need renovations. The criteria included building integrity; how well personnel can function in the existing space; the need to accommodate new [larger] firetrucks and other equipment; call volume; and population growth in the station's service area.
Renovations and construction at fire stations in Remington, Catlett and Warrenton are already being done as part of the first phase of the VFRA's capital improvements program. Improvements to the New Baltimore station have been delayed.
E-mail the reporter: abogdanovic@timespapers.com