A series of groundbreaking ceremonies were recently held for two new fire stations for the City of New Braunfels Fire Department. Both of these construction projects were overwhelmingly approved by voters during the 2019 bond election.
Due to ongoing precautions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, these ceremonies were small, socially distanced gatherings that followed Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s orders as well as health and safety recommendations from the CDC and the Comal County Public Health Authority.
The first groundbreaking ceremony was held on September 24th for Fire Station #3 on Hanz Dr. The $6.7 million project replaces the current 3,700 sq. ft. structure which was first constructed in 1981 and builds a new 12,000 sq. ft. structure. The new facility will house six firefighters daily, a fire engine, a brush truck, an ambulance and will also include space for a reserve fire engine or ambulance. Prior to the start of construction, employees and equipment from Fire Station #3 were temporarily relocated to the NBU-owned Headwaters at the Comal, located at 333 East Klingemann St.
A second groundbreaking ceremony was held on October 1st for Fire Station #2. The original facility, a 3,000 sq. ft. building which has been located on Loop 337 near Altgelt Lane since its construction in 1975, is being replaced with a new 15,000 sq. ft. facility on Water Lane. The new $7.4 million fire station will house five Fire & EMS personnel daily, a fire engine, an ambulance, and a hazmat response truck/trailer. The facility will initially be constructed as a “single company house,” but is being built in such a way that it will easily support the addition of a ladder truck and more personnel in the future.
“We are extremely grateful to the citizens of New Braunfels for their continued support with these bond projects,” said New Braunfels Fire Chief Patrick O’Connell. “These new fire stations will be beautiful additions to our community, and because they will be located in or very near their existing locations, response times will remain unchanged.”
Construction on both of these new facilities is expected to take approximately 12 months, weather and other factors permitting. Once completed, both new fire stations will feature significant increases in the amount of apparatus bay space, along with dedicated bunker gear storage rooms, bunker gear cleaning equipment, and breathing air fill stations for the firefighters’ self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Each fire station will also have their own kitchen, living quarters, and gym facilities.
For additional information about the projects approved by voters during the 2019 Bond Election, please visit the 2019 Bond Program page on the city’s website.