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HV staff The Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department plans to build a new, more modern fire station to better serve its members and the community. The department has two building options. It could either find a new piece of land on which to build the new station or they could tear down the existing building and build a new one. Currently the department is working with the idea of renovating the old station. Preliminary plans, designed by the architectural firm of Hackley and Zambito of Silver Spring, allow for a bigger, more operational station with more usable space and an extra apparatus bay. The department has not yet determined when they will be able to build the new station because they do not have the temporary housing necessary to undertake such a massive project, according to Vice President Bill Moran. The rebuilding is necessary because the current station, built in the 1950s, is too old and too small to meet the department's current needs. The fire apparatus of the 50s was much smaller than those of today, so the bays were designed to fit the smaller units. Many of the department's units barely fit into the station. The design for the new station allows for five large bays for the apparatus. A bay was added to the building in the 1987 to house the ladder truck. There also is not an adequate amount of room to walk around the apparatus in the bays, Moran said. Even doing simple maintenance work on the emergency units is difficult because of the space limitations. Moran said renovating the current station is not as practical as building a new one because of the cost. In addition, he said the department would like a different design for the station to make it more beneficial and useful to the members in the future. Moran said the current building does not have classroom facilities making it hard to conduct classes and drills. A building with classroom facilities would enhance the level of extra training the members are able to receive. The design of the new station contains classroom facilities and there may be enough room to provide space for community groups to meet. With 12 live-in volunteers, the current station is not big enough for the live-in volunteers because the bunk room was originally designed for less people. Ten of the 12 live-ins are college students. The department would like to provide much improved living conditions, a better study area for the students and other members, a library and a full-sized kitchen. The kitchen facilities in the current station were originally intended only as a walkway between the main station and a temporary - now permanent - trailer addition. That small add-on now houses the all but one of the station's offices and a small meeting area. Moran said the department knows nice equipment and facilities draw more volunteers. It has benefited from the increase in membership with the addition of new and better equipment in the last few years. For that reason, they feel that a new station will attract more volunteers. More volunteers mean better service to the community. There also has been preliminary discussion with between the City of Hyattsville and department about housing a police sub-station in the new building, Moran said. Although the road to a new station has been a long one for the department and its membership, officials hope to begin construction as soon as a firm project proposal has been finalized. CHECK OUT OUR ONLINE 1996 NEWSPAPER, HYATTSVILLE VOLUNTEERS 
 
 
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