• By JAMES MINTON
• Advocate Baker - Zachary bureau
• Published: Nov 15, 2009 - Page: 4B

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BAKER — The Baker Fire Department will move into its new $3.4 million central fire station later this week, after a 10 a.m. public dedication program on Monday.

The station, at Groom Road and Ewell Boulevard, offers about 11,000 square feet of space, including a command center for fire, police and several city agencies in the event of a hurricane or other emergency, Fire Chief Danny Edwards said.

The public is invited to attend, and a variety of food will be served, Edwards said.

The building replaces temporary living quarters that firefighters manning the central station have used for five years.

The department also has a satellite station in the parish Emergency Medical Services building on Lavey Lane.

In 2004, a serious mold problem forced the city to close the firefighters’ living area in the station on Groom Road near La. 19, and a mobile home in front of the building became their overnight quarters.

Administrative offices were relocated to a nearby commercial building purchased by the state in anticipation of the widening of La. 19.

In October 2007, the department leased the former site of a distribution center and news bureau for The Advocate on Baker Boulevard, but firefighters continued to live in a mobile home on the new site.

Construction of the new building began in November 2008 after the city obtained a $1.2 million state capital outlay grant and sold $2 million in bonds for the project.

Holden Architects of Baton Rouge designed the building, and D. Honoré Construction Inc. was the general contractor.

In addition to living quarters, showers and locker space for the five firefighters who are on duty at all times, the building contains offices for a receptionist, the fire chief, assistant chief, training officer and other department officials, a weight-training room, a kitchen and the emergency operations room.

The equipment bay has room for a pumper truck, aerial truck, rescue vehicles and other fire response vehicles.

The building is equipped with a high-tech security system that combines a variety of sensors, motion detectors, surveillance cameras and computer hardware and software installed by NetTalon Inc. at no cost to the city, except for some subcontracted labor, Edwards said.