DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Rep. Joe Hamm and Trout Run Vol. Fire Dept. Chief Nick Smith talk about the plans to rebuild the fire hall recently. The fire hall was damaged during the effects of Hurricane Debby in 2024 and needs to be replaced.

Backing out onto Route 14 is a hazardous situation for Trout Run Volunteer Fire Co. firefighters and rescue assignment personnel.

“One of the main reasons for a new redesigned station is safety,” said Fire Chief Nick Smith.

As it is now, the firefighters use the road to back the trucks back into the station.

During a recent tour of the facility, Smith described a rendering of the proposed $3 million project, a complete rebuild of the station which puts the five bay doors on the opposite side of the building.

Not only will they be opposite to where they are now in another rebuilt building, but the structure also will be about 4 ½ feet higher, 2 1/2 inches higher than the existing building, a requirement of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to get the building out of the 500-year floodplain, he said.

The station was heavily damaged during the flooding of Tropical Storm Debby on Aug. 9. A huge tree swept down Trout Run tributary, penetrating a hole in the side of the fire house built in 1955.

“The main issue to take care of here was to get us off of Route 14,” he said, adding, “It was a safety hazard backing these trucks in even with flashing lights.”

“I have to worry as much about firemen getting run over than I do about getting to the fire,” he said. With the design showing the tearing down of the existing building and rebuilding of a new one, the firefighters will be able to more safely enter and exit the firehouse and respond in any direction of any call.

Secondly, another primary purpose for the rebuild is to get whatever structure is built to be out of the 500-year floodplain, he said.

“This building goes away with our insurance that is available,” he said. “We are losing our house where we have two live-ins now, and then that building will go up.”

Architect Tony Komarnicki included in the design bunk areas and a kitchen and Dan Vassallo, engineer, did the site plans, Smith said. “They have been helping us from day one when we got flooded,” Smith said, adding there were five different engineers who looked at the damage.

Granted, it will be a slightly smaller station but it will be redesigned for economic purposes and efficiency, he said. The plans, he noted, are conceptual and require steps such as going through the permitting process. He said he anticipated the work could begin in the next six months.