Ground breaking for the new long-awaited fire station on the southeast corner of route de Lotbinière at the intersection rue Chicoine in Vaudreuil-Dorion is expected to begin shortly.
The announcement was made by Mayor Guy Pilon to VIVA MÉDIA who said representatives from the provincial and municipal governments and the MRC will be present at the official ground breaking ceremony expected to be held shortly. The total investment for the new fire station is $14.8 million which includes a provincial subsidy of $4 million.
The area is presently surrounded with metal fencing and a large billboard shows a rendition of how the completed structure will look. Construction trailers are also on site and workers were seen doing preparatory work on the grounds before the heavy equipment arrives.
A billboard features a rendition of how the new fire station on route de Lotbinière in Vaudreuil-Dorion will look after completion. PHOTO BY JOHN JANTAK
Long overdue
Pilon said the new fire station is long overdue and is pleased construction is about to begin. He added having a modern facility will ensure residents will continue to receive the same high quality service they expect from their emergency services.
“The Lotbinière fire station ceased to meet our fire safety service requirements long . Our firefighters are now on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in addition to providing first-responder services. This constant presence requires us to have an adequate response time which makes a big difference during interventions,” said Pilon.
The former fire station was built in 1966 and was originally used by a private company for the distribution of beer. Some improvements were made to the structure after it was acquired by the city in 1990 but problems were detected by the end of the ‘90s.
In 2018, experts assessed options as to renovate expand the former structure or to build a new one. It was determined that because of the original building’s configuration and degree of combustibility it would be best to proceed with a new structure.
Second main fire station
Emergency services were never comprised after the fire station was permanently closed last year because most of the fire trucks were relocated to another nearby building and the emergency personnel took up quarters in a rented house close to the original fire station.
The Lotbinière barracks will become second main fire station to cover Vaudreuil-Dorion’s urban territory. The new building will meet the latest design standards and will accommodate firefighters on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week primarily in the south sector of the city.
It’s location in the Dorion sector will also enable personnel to answer emergency calls in neighbouring Pointe-des-Cascades as part of a mutual aid agreement with Vaudreuil-Dorion. The city also provides emergency mutual aid services to Vaudreuil-sur-le-Lac and L’Île-Cadieux.
