‘A no-brainer’: York Fire Department gets ready to build new station

YORK, Neb. (KLKN) – York has begun work on a new fire station.

“We’re still in the very beginning steps,” Fire Chief Tony Bestwick said.

It’s been a long time coming, according to city officials.

The old station at Eighth Street and Grant Avenue has been serving York since 1969.

Many renovations would be needed for space and safety, especially cancer prevention, Bestwick said.

“Right now, we have no exhaust filtering systems or catching systems,” he said. “We have to open our doors to let our trucks out when we do our daily equipment checks to run the tools and run the trucks.”

Because of this, carcinogens are in the air of many rooms.

And other accommodations are needed for female firefighters joining the team.

“This fire station was built with males in mind,” Bestwick said. “There’s no privacy. We have a dormitory-style sleeping arrangements.”

And overall, the space is just too small.

Firetrucks and other equipment are getting longer and taller, according to fire crews.

In crunching numbers, the York Fire Department found that a completely new station was only $750,000 more than a remodel.

“Then it kind of became a no-brainer,” Bestwick said.

After over three years of talks, the city bought land from a motorcycle shop in April.

Bestwick said it was the best location because it’s just off Lincoln Avenue, the city’s main street.

Demolition and construction plans will start when the fire department acquires the property next April.

The city said there is plenty of work to be done before construction, as officials want to do it right.

The new station will be set to serve York for the rest of the century.