This Fourth of July, the Spur Volunteer Fire Department should really have a moment to celebrate with its annual fireworks show, as move-in for its state-ofthe- art fire station at the corner of Burlington Avenue and Third Street could begin as early as next week.
Final details on the building are down to the wire as the VFD, the City of Spur and property donors Eric and Linda Swenson all conducted walk-throughs with the construction firm last week, according to Louis Martinez of Collier Construction, who was on site Monday completing several punch-list items, and Spur VFD fire chief Wess Abbott.
The new firehouse, which has been under construction for more than a year after the donation of land and funding in February 2022, will replace the old station in the 100 block of Burlington that was formerly the city’s municipal power plant. When the move occurs, the Wyatt Tractor Service, whose adjoining city property was razed and used for the new station, will relocate to the old power plant, leaving their current shop and lot to the north for further access and improvements to the new fire station.
Dickens County Commissioner Charlie Morris was on site with Abbott Monday afternoon to discuss punch-list items, and they anticipated numerous items to be wrapped up the following day. Installation of items large and small— from microwave oven, light fixture switchplate covers, and the flagpole—were all on the list.
A bigger technical challenge is the cleanup and reopening of Third Street, but Morris offered a plan that was already under way by Tuesday morning. The street will be cleaned and reopened to vehicle traffic soon, as construction materials are moved out of the way.
Move-in will also begin soon, said Abbott, but that process brings its own challenges. Personal gear and apparatus will have to be moved from the old station all at once for the entire team, he said, so that firefighters remain prepared in one place for any emergency.
The big move is “a oncein- a-lifetime challenge for a small department like ours,” he explained, but they’re ready.
When all is accomplished, Abbott said, the department eagerly looks forward to one red-letter
will be opened up to the public for homecoming events.
