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County breaking ground for fire hall

“When we deal with HAZMAT materials and have to wash ourselves it’s with a hose. And the water can get pretty chilly,” Todd Gustafson
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Bentley’s Mayor Joan Dickau

Bentley’s cramped fire department will be moving into their new hall this winter.

A sod turning ceremony July 4 marked celebration and recognition for the joint project between Lacombe County and the Town of Bentley.

The project started in January of 2011 with a small committee that felt the hall was too small for the active volunteer department. “At the time it was determined we really needed to do something about it,” said Keith Boras, manager of environmental and protective services for the county.

Taxpayers are funding the $1.8 million hall and Boras says this is the first hall the county has been involved with without the aid of grants. He knows the project is a big step for Bentley and the town recognizes the need for a larger hall.

The current hall, situated next to the Bentley Town Office, is more than 50 years old, isn’t large enough for how new equipment is being manufactured and is too small to house the five trucks used by the department.

The half-ton utility truck doesn’t fit in the cramped bay, which is so small hoses have to be dried out in the middle of the floor. For a period it was kept outside the building but vandalism forced it to be moved to a member’s house, just outside of town.

“They have to take the vehicles out in order to check the oil,” said Boras.

“At this point, during the winter, we had to take the trucks down to the local car wash to get them washed because the building is too small and for obvious reasons we couldn’t do it outside,” added Fire Chief Todd Gustafson.

The hall’s training room also serves as the bunker room, meeting room, classroom and kitchen area. There’s one bathroom and the shower has been turned into storage space. “When we deal with HAZMAT materials and have to wash ourselves it’s with a hose. And the water can get pretty chilly,” said Gustafson.

With the new hall in sight, Gustafson and the other 16 members are looking forward to a less cramped future. “It feels good, we’ve been extremely excited about the new facility.”

“I think it’s going to be huge. This building has been designed to accommodate the department far into the future,” said Bentley’s mayor, Joan Dickau.

“I think it’s a great day for the County of Lacombe and the Town of Bentley,” she said.