A steady stream of interested residents Saturday afternoon received personal tours of Fire Station 1 during an open house showcasing the station’s recently completed expansion and renovations at the fire station in Syracuse .

Turkey Creek Fire Chief Mickey Scott, left, talks to Syracuse resident Pam Schumm as senior firefighter Larry Weaver looks on. (Photo by Ray Balogh)

About 15 to 20 firefighters and paramedics from the Turkey Creek Fire Department were on hand to provide visitor escorts.

Fire Chief Mickey Scott was gratified by the brisk turnout. “This is your investment,” he said to the taxpayers. “You need to see where your money is going.”

When asked who he would like to thank for the building’s upgrades, Scott answered, “The taxpayers themselves.”

Brantley Hunter, left and his sister Sophie, enjoy refreshments and souvenir headgear during the open house. Mom Tiffany is the wife of TCFD firefighter Quinn Hunter. (Photo by Ray Balogh)

He added, “We all have a stake in this. When you think about it, the focal point of any community is the fire and police stations. It is a reflection on the community.”
Referring to the renovations, he said, “This gives you an idea of what kind of community we have.”

Visitors were treated to hot dogs, donuts and coffee during the four-hour event. The department also set up a table where county residents could acquire free smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and physician orders for scope of treatment forms recently authorized by the state legislature.

One of three dorm rooms on the recently completed second floor of Fire Station 1. (Photo by Ray Balogh)

The station, located in downtown Syracuse, began its most recent renovation, the building’s third, in December. A second floor was added to the structure between the two truck bays and consists of three dorm rooms, two baths and showers, kitchen facilities, living room with big screen television, exercise room and report room.

The building’s electrical and plumbing capacities were upgraded to accommodate the addition and the structure, originally erected in 1961, received its first sprinkler system.
Two furnaces and two air conditioners control the climate in the building.

In the south truck bay, added on to the original building in 1987, one overhead door was heightened to accommodate the department’s ladder truck, which was originally parked in Fire Station 2 south of Syracuse.