After years of planning and fundraising Pleasant Dale opens new fire department building

A pile of dirt and a slab of cement were all that stood next to the old Pleasant Dale fire station.

Nine months later that slab of cement is home to the Village’s expanded fire station.

The rural department’s growth has been several years in the making and members say it allows them space to grow in the future.

“We get more space, more equipment, we’re in the process of getting a new first responder vehicle for the interstate calls and medical calls, so it’s nice to see that we actually have room to start squiring more equipment,” Cody Rohrig, a safety officer for the Pleasant Dale Volunteer Fire Department, said.

Before the new building was finished the rural department had their vehicles stored in several different locations throughout the village because space was at a premium.

With the addition, having all their vehicles located in one spot shortens their incident response time.

Is also allows them to rely less on surrounding communities for support.

“If we can sit there and not be as much of a crutch it’s a benefit to everybody within the area and that’s where we’re at and that’s where we’re getting. We’re getting to the point where we’re able to do a lot more,” Rohrig said.

The village of Pleasant Dale put up half the money for the new building, leaving the department no choice but to fundraise the rest of the $500,000 needed to make the dream a reality.

The community rallied around the rural department hosting everything from pancake feeds to taco bars.

When the department broke ground last summer they were still short of their fundraising goal, but once the building was up the department owned it free and clear.

Fire Chief Nick Dankers said the only reason the building is standing today is because of the community’s support.

“Thanks for all your support. We know that you guys rely on us and we’re here for you, we’re doing everything we can do be the best department we can be and without your support this probably wouldn’t have happened and it will benefit all,” Chief Dankers said.

The department says they’re looking forward to serving their community even better out of the new building for decades to come.