Fires in Kinston get a new enemy

 At a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Kinston officials and firemen welcomed the newest addition to the city's firefighting arsenal: a 16,000 square-foot fire station on Vernon Avenue.

The new Fire Station 1 replaces the station on King Street, which was more than 50 years old. Two fire trucks, a mobile office, dive trailer, and a technical rescue truck are among the vehicles housed there.

 "This new station is about 100 million times better," said Capt. Billy Huggins from the kitchen/recliner room at the facility. He said the layout of the station allows personnel to respond to calls about a minute faster than it could from the old facility, partly because the bay doors - which offer more clearance than the doors at the King Street station - open in 7 seconds.

Commander Steven Martin agreed the new station decreases fire department response time.

"Backing out into King Street at the old station was hard and dangerous because of all the traffic," Martin, a 21 1/2-year veteran of the department, said. "(The new station) will help us to serve the public. It's in a better location, too, which means we can get to the west faster and have an easier time going east."

Fire Station 1 features smoke eaters in the bay that remove carbon dioxide in the air emitted by trucks leaving and backing in. And because it's one story high, firemen no longer have to climb stairs or slide down poles.

The facility also contains 11 bedrooms with three beds apiece and a guest room for course instructors.

"It's a much nicer, cleaner station," said Huggins. "I don't have to share a bed with anybody anymore."

Firefighter Eric Mossberg added that fire poles can cause many injuries for firemen answering a call - particularly twisted ankles and back injuries. Poles not being part of the new station is a major advantage, he said.

The fire pole from the old station is on display in the front window of the new one, "The only thing we brought from it," said Martin. 

For Kinston resident Helen Taylor, who lives behind the station on East Lenoir Avenue, having the station close to her house gives her a sense of security.

"I like it," Taylor said. "It's not loud. We hear when they're going out (because of an alarm), but I enjoy them. I like it being out here."

The station - one of three in the city - was partially funded by a $4,986,000 low interest loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Community Facilities Program. The loan also helped pay for repairs and upgrades to the City Hall complex, which will assist the public safety and police departments by providing space for administrative offices. 

"Rural Development has made important contributions to the economic welfare of rural communities in financing essential public structures ... for our first responders," John Cooper of the USDA Rural Development division said in a press release. "Firefighters risk their lives to protect property and citizens and we must assist them by providing the best facilities possible.

"We are indebted to all firefighters, as they risk their lives every day for the well-being of others."

 Justin Schoenberger can be reached at (252) 559-1075 or jschoenberger@freedomenc.com.