Today marks a new beginning for Jackson firefighters and one fire station that was decades old and in need of repairs. Agreements between the city and the Jackson Fire Department gave Local 87 Union first responders more confidence when putting their lives on the line for residents.
Three momentous events brought city officials and firefighters to Fire Station 24, all efforts that will make Subdivision #2 in West Jackson a safer community. One of the highlights of the day was the christening of the new Engine 24, a nearly $1 million Pierce Engine Pumper. It is stationed at the recently renovated fire house.
โSo right now, we have 18 full-time firefighters and approximately 30 part-time firefighters,โ Chief Bitz said. โAnd after this grant is accepted and we get those additional six people on board, weโll have 24 full-time personnel and again, weโll maintain that about 30, 30 to 35 part-time personnel.โ Not only are six new jobs being opened up at the department soon, but some more exciting things are in the works.
โItโs all a part of our long-term strategic planning as a city,โ Bitz said. โAnd we have identified a need for a third fire station in the northwest part of Mandan. As it sits today, the station itself, weโre still in a studying phase. We are in the process of selecting an architect to help us walk through what that station looks like, where it might be specifically located, what our wants are in that station, what are needs are in that station. And then try to put some numbers, some realistic numbers to those wants and needs.โ
If all goes to plan and stays on schedule, Chief Bitz say they must hire six new firefighters by March of next year in order to benefit from the SAFER Grant. Pending some small tweaks due to the government shutdown, he anticipates the hiring process will start once they have the final approval.
