The new fire stations will include many updated amenities, such as separate sleeping quarters, a dedicated workout area, a conference room for studying and training, and a decontamination room where the firefighters can take off their gear, put it in the laundry and shower.
By: Gena Johnson | Warren Weekly | Published January 20, 2023
WARREN — The Warren City Council has voted unanimously to approve a $22,950,000 Downtown Development Authority bond issue to build two new fire stations: Station 1 and Station 5.
“I’m ecstatic,” said Warren Fire Commissioner Wilburt “Skip” McAdams. “Securing sufficient funding is one of the final steps prior to beginning the construction.
“It has been a long process to get to this point. Right now, we are awaiting construction documents,” McAdams said. “Then we’ll put it out to bid with a goal of breaking ground in mid-June or early July.”
According to McAdams, the new stations will improve response time in those areas, as well as balance the call volumes among the stations. Currently, Station 5 is located at Common Road and Hoover Road. The new location will be farther east in the Schoenherr Road and 12 Mile Road area.
“It will expand Station 4’s territory but reduce Station 5’s territory. We should have a better response time in that area and even out the call volume for both stations. It will be a very good thing,” said McAdams.
“Currently, Station 5 has the largest territory and the largest call volume, while Station 4 has the smallest territory. By moving Station 5 farther east, it should better equalize the run area of both stations,” McAdams said.
The Warren Fire Department’s Station 1, at Nine Mile Road and Federal Avenue, east of Van Dyke Avenue, will be built in the same location.
Warren Mayor James Fouts said, “I am happy that they (the City Council) were finally able to approve it.”
A staunch proponent of the cadet training academy, which has many cadets from Warren, Fouts said, “We can’t have new fire stations if we don’t have firefighters.”
He added, “We have firefighters because of the cadet program. Obviously, we are going to move into the 21st century and we’re going to have updated fire services.”
Warren’s most recent recruiting class of cadets was November 2021.
According to McAdams, the cadets earn while they learn, $16 per hour up to 26 hours a week. Books and training are paid for by the Warren Fire Department. Once cadets pass all of the necessary exams and are properly licensed, then they can become a firefighter/EMT-basic with a starting salary of $41,746 while they are still in the academy. Depending on when they complete their paramedic training, graduates of the academy can earn a starting salary of $68,915 to $74,208. The program takes two years.
The next cadet recruiting class is spring/summer 2023. Candidates must be 18 or over and a U.S. citizen or able to work in the United States. They must pass a physical medical exam that includes a drug screen.
“We have a zero tolerance for drugs,” said McAdams. That includes marijuana.
There is also a psychological test and an oral board.
The new fire stations will include many updated amenities, such as separate sleeping quarters, a dedicated workout area, a conference room for studying and training, and a decontamination room where the firefighters can take off their gear, put it in the laundry and shower.
“This will eliminate bringing in any hazardous materials into the station,” said McAdams.
Fouts said the city of Warren has been recognized repeatedly for its premier fire department.
“We have won the Gold Award from the American Heart Association seven or eight years in a row,” Fouts said.