It’s been nearly 14 1/2 months since the Gainesville Volunteer Fire Department suffered two bouts of damage to its previous fire station a month apart from each other. Since that time, the department has made numerous strides in its recovery including moving to a new location.
The former station at the intersection of U.S. Highway 160 and Missouri Highway 5 North had its first round of damage from flooding April 29th and 30th of last year. The department received another blow a month later when the station caught fire and destroyed the structure and its contents. The city of Gainesville has sinced purchased another structure on Highway 160 west of the intersection with Highway 5 South. The Gainesville City Council agreed in September to buy the property from Loren Dean Hillhouse for $140,000.
Gainesville Fire Chief Ed Doiran says there are advantages and disadvantages to the new location.
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The rebuilding process has also required the fire department to get new equipment. Doiran says the department has received assistance in the process not only from the city but from other fire departments and districts.
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Doiran says the department has also received equipment from other fire departments as far at St. Louis. One of the items donated was a second fully-equipped fire truck that did not cost Gainesville any extra money.
The Gainesville fire chief says he and the other firefighters in his department are grateful for all the support from other fire districts, Gainesville city officials and the public.
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Doiran adds the Gainesville Volunteer Fire Department is still in need of some items lost in the fire, but they are attempting to stretch out the time frame and avoid seeking too many projects at one time. The department currently has the basic necessities in order to function.
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