Gwinnett County officially opened two new fire stations Tuesday, including one near a local college's rapidly growing campus.
Both Fire Station 31 and Fire Station 10 — the latter of which already existed but relocated to a new facility — have been up and running since Nov. 8, but officials held ribbon-cutting ceremonies this week.
Station 31 is new altogether and is located at 1061 Collins Hill Road in Lawrenceville, across from the campus of Georgia Gwinnett College.
"The strategic location of the fire station will provide quick access to the Highway 316 corridor and puts fire and emergency medical personnel close to the college and surrounding neighborhoods and businesses," Gwinnett fire Capt. Tommy Rutledge said in a news release. "Along with the new station opening, the department will also add an additional engine, ladder truck and medic unit, to an already busy emergency response fleet across the county."
Station 10, formerly located near the busy intersection of Russell Road and Buford Drive, moved into a new facility at 1131 Rock Springs Road. That location is near Coolray Field and not far from I-85 and the Mall of Georgia.
"The original station was built to accommodate a single engine and a total of three personnel per shift," Rutledge said. "Since that time the department added a medic unit and additional staffing at the station, which compressed the office space and living quarters for on-duty crews."
Both new stations are around 14,300 square feet and, together, cost the county about $6.9 million, Rutledge said. The cost was covered by SPLOST funds, which are collected through a 1-cent sales tax approved by voters.
In other fire department-related news, Gwinnett Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash released her proposed 2017 budget on Tuesday. The budget would include money for new 24/7 ambulance units at fire stations 21 (470 Old Peachtree Road in Suwanee) and 22 (2180 Stone Drive in Lilburn).
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