The Keysville Fire Department is in the midst of a long-desired and much-anticipated expansion of its firehouse.
The ground was prepared in October, and the work began in earnest in November with the concrete foundation being laid and the metal building brought in, Chief Lynn Duffy said.
“It’s going to better serve the county’s Emergency Medical Services and Fire protection,” he said.
The addition is attached to the existing structure, and some of the vehicles have already been moved into the new space, Duffy said.
“It will be like one big building when they finish,” he said.
Duffy said the project became necessary as “We just overflowed what we had.”
Planning and saving for the project went on for a couple of years, Duffy said.
J.E. Burton Construction Co., out of South Boston, is doing the work, Duffy said.
The project is being funded through donations, and Duffy is proud and quick to note that it is “because of community support we were able to do this.”
Anyone interested in contributing can send a donation to P.O. Box 167, Keysville, Va., 23947, Duffy said.
The total cost of the project will not be known until everything is finished, Duffy said. As work has gone on, some changes were incorporated.
Duffy said the fire department thought about seeking grant money, “but grant money has pretty much dried up.”
Once the work is finished, there will be an open house so locals can visit, he said.
“We want them to see what we’ve got, and how we better serve them,” Duffy said. “We’re really proud of what we’ve got and where we’re going with this.”
Eventually, Duffy said, the department would like to get some new trucks “to better serve the community.”