PHOTOS: A ceremonial opening of the new Warren Fire Station No. 1 that was held Sept. 27 symbolizes the start of a new era for the city’s fire department. The new station, which is located on Van Dyke Avenue next to the Burnette Library, replaces the old Station No. 1 on Nine Mile Road that was built in 1954.
When that fire station opened, Dwight D. Eisenhower was president of the United States and Alaska and Hawaii were not yet states. The first, original Warren firehouse was located on Van Dyke Avenue south of Nine Mile Road. With only two garage bays and cramped quarters for the firefighters, the old Nine Mile Road station had become functionally obsolete.
The new station brings Warren’s fire department into the 21st century allowing for more fire and EMS trucks to be housed at the station and being located on Van Dyke Avenue which is expected to quicken response times for first responders.
Warren Fire Commissioner Wilburt “Skip” McAdams points to the new, 42-foot heavy rescue truck that was delivered to his department in June and was on display during Saturday’s ceremony. The $400,000 state-of-the-art truck, which was funded through a State of Michigan Enhancement Grant, would not fit into the garage bays at the old Station No. 1.
