By Bailey Coyle, FOX23.com News Staff
OSAGE, Okla. — Frontier Shores Fire Department is one step closer to getting a new fire station, but firefighters say they need the community’s help to overcome one final hurdle.
FOX23 previously told you about the department’s plans for a new station. Fire Chief Steve Matias said the department has secured funding for the building and concrete, but it still needs money for plumbing and electrical work before construction can begin.
Matias said the department has started a GoFundMe with a goal of raising about $5,000. Some people have offered to donate labor, but the department still needs to pay for materials.
The need for a new station goes beyond simply having more space.
Matias said the department’s current building has significant issues, including flooding when it rains and limited usable space.
He said emergency vehicles are also left exposed to the elements because the department does not have adequate covered space.
“We don’t have the means to cover our vehicles, to keep our vehicles under in a garage, or in a covered environment from the elements,” Matias said.
Matias said protecting the department’s vehicles is especially important as Oklahoma heads toward winter. Freezing temperatures can create problems for fire trucks and equipment, potentially turning an emergency vehicle into what he described as “more of a liability than an asset.”
The new station could also help firefighters respond more quickly. Matias said firefighters currently respond from their homes and then travel to the station before heading to emergencies. A new station would allow firefighters to stay at the facility and respond directly when calls come in.
Matias said the department’s response times can sometimes stretch to 15 or 20 minutes, particularly when equipment or staffing issues arise.
The department has two upcoming fundraising events, including the Splash and Smoke Community Bash on September 19. The event will include a chili cook-off, vendors and raffles. A Christmas Winter Wonderland fundraiser is also planned for December.
Matias said once the concrete and plumbing are complete, the department was told the station could be built in less than a month.
The department is also accepting donations through its GoFundMe and Cash App as it works to raise the final funding needed to break ground.
You can donate to the department’s GoFundMe by clicking here and Cash App at $frontierfire.
