MINERAL WELLS -The Mineral Wells Volunteer Fire Department has doubled in size with the completion of a 6,000-square-foot addition to the rear of the station.
Construction began on the annex in April, and firefighters began adding the finishing touches in early July when the structure was complete.
"We're very happy with it," said Mineral Wells Fire Chief Jay Parsons. "We've been needing the extra space for about 20 years now."
The existing 5,000-square-foot fire station had enough space for only a small kitchen, office and a couple fire trucks. The new addition holds a large commercial kitchen, a fitness room, several offices, a conference room, radio room, restrooms and showers and a spacious lounge.
The old building now holds the fire department's pumper trucks.
"We really outgrew the space we had. There just wasn't enough storage," said Parsons. "The new addition is everything we expected it to be."
Donations will help fund the $300,000 annex, which was designed with the help of Parsons and the 18 volunteer firefighters. Lowe's, Carter Lumber and other local suppliers gave generous discounts for building materials, Parsons said.
"It took us about four months to get the building up. We had a contractor come in, but a lot of the firefighters actually put a lot of work into it too. Our guys did the insulation, drywall, some of the woodwork and all the painting," he said. "We worked almost every day on it."
The new building holds offices for the captains and lieutenants, fire chief, president and financial secretary.
"They're pretty happy about having offices of their own," said Parsons.
Fire officials are still moving equipment and items into the new building. The 25-by-28-foot kitchen will be useful during the department's annual pig roast on Sept. 11.
"The pig roast is by far our biggest fundraiser. It probably brings in $5,000 a year for us," he said.
The public will get a chance to tour the fire department annex during an open house Aug. 28 from 1 to 3 p.m.
