Mehlville Fire Department Celebrates Completion of Firehouse #4

The Mehlville Fire Department celebrated the completion of its number four house, located at 13117 Tesson Ferry Rd., with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house on Saturday. It is the third new Mehlville firehouse built within the past five years.

Following in the Board’s tradition of “buying on a pay as you go basis,” the $2.7 million firehouse was built without a bond issue or tax increase (“Hotline:” The Mehlville Fire Department Newsletter, Feb. 10, 2011). In fact, the department actually faced a tax decrease, which was approved in April 2009. The new house replaces its smaller, older counterpart, which was built in 1964.

Assistant Fire Chief Brian Hendricks explained that the new house is a “great improvement over the old space” and has several upgrades, including more private quarters for the crew, the addition of a small gym and a training area. The training area allows the crew members to hone their ladder dismount, rope repelling, climbing, and small space confinement techniques. In addition, the garage features three bays (the previous house had two) and separate equipment sanitation and storage areas.

Captain Kevin Reis, who leads the Rescue Squad, was previously stationed at the old number four house and witnessed the transformation from an old Taco Bell restaurant, which was torn down, to new firehouse. “It was exciting to see in the beginning … I’m so glad to see it completed,” Reis said.  

Although the major construction is completed, the crew will not move over into the new house just yet.

“It’s like any other project. You have to put the finishing touches on and get everything correct before you can move in. They’re still waiting on the traffic signal too,” Reis said.

Hendricks added that the move should be completed in less than three weeks.

The acquisition of the land from Schuyler Corporation caused some controversy last year because the owner of that company has two sons who work for the Mehlville FD. As KMOV reported in May 2010, some people felt that the deal involved a “conflict of interest and was cause for concern.”  Nonetheless, the spirit of the open house was achievement and progress, not scorn or disdain.

“We [the Mehlville FD] never had an issue with the land deal ... it was just people trying to stir things up,” Aaron Hilmer, director and chairman of the Board, said. Hilmer reiterated that the firehouse was “built with cash,” an extraordinary achievement, and that the land deal should not be a subject of dispute.

The old house, located adjacent to the new one, is up for sale and the department is currently entertaining bidders, although no firm offers have yet been received. The proceeds of the sale will help the department recoup some of the costs associated with the new construction.

The Mehlville Fire Department is set to break ground on its newest construction, a replacement for house number three, on March 21.