State-of-the-art facility is home to Fuquay-Varina Fire Department and Wake County EMS
[Joint news release with the Town of Fuquay-Varina]
Fuquay-Varina established its first municipal fire station in 1951. Almost 75 years later, the Town will celebrate the opening of Fire Station 4, located at 4821 Wade Nash Road, at a ribbon cutting on March 21 at 2 p.m.
The 18,650-square-foot station houses both the Fuquay-Varina Fire Department and Wake County Emergency Medical Services and is designed to meet the community's current needs, anticipate growth, prioritize firefighter safety and honor the department's history.
“Fire Station 4 is a labor of love to this community and our firefighters,” said Fuquay-Varina Fire Chief Jim Jones. “This new facility will reduce the district's response times, provide state-of-the-art amenities and protection for our firefighters, and promote the history of this great department. We have been blessed with a strong vision for the future, willing partners and a staff committed to making a difference in our community.”
Wake County contributed just over $4 million to Station 4’s total $10.44 million in construction costs. The project is an important investment in first responders providing services to the Fuquay-Varina area. The town’s population has increased by approximately 35% since 2020. This means there are thousands more nearby residents that may someday need to call for help.
“Wherever you are in Wake County, you can rely on our dedicated first responders to help during an emergency,” said Wake County Board of Commissioners Chair Shinica Thomas. “We are proud to work together with our municipal partners to keep our residents safe by providing these agencies with top-of-the-line facilities and equipment.”
The new station is expected to significantly reduce emergency response times north and west of downtown Fuquay-Varina. This will be a welcome boost to the Fuquay-Varina Fire Department, which is one of the busiest departments in Wake County. In 2023 alone, its members responded to 5,786 calls. Last year, Wake County EMS responded to 14,470 calls in the region that Station 4 will now serve.
“The Town of Fuquay-Varina continues to be ranked as the safest town in North Carolina,” said Fuquay-Varina Mayor Blake Massengill. “Our Town Board has prioritized investing in public safety, and I am excited to see Station 4 open and bring value to the town.”
Ribbon cutting event
Media are encouraged to attend the ribbon cutting celebration at 2 p.m. on March 21. The event will feature remarks from:
- Fuquay-Varina Mayor Blake Massengill
- Wake County Commissioner Matt Calabria
- Fuquay-Varina Fire Chief Jim Jones
Please RSVP to sweis@fuquay-varina.org.
Station features
Station 4 will feature three drive-through apparatus bays, dayrooms and bunk rooms, a kitchen, offices for administrative staff and ample storage space.
The new station also includes a separate decontamination building. Here, equipment and gear will undergo cleaning. At the same time, firefighters can promptly shower and change clothes following fire service calls to prevent harmful cancer-causing combustion products from entering the main facility. Designated decontamination facilities are just one of many initiatives that fire services leaders in Wake County and across the nation are implementing to help prevent firefighter occupational cancer.
Additionally, Fuquay-Varina Station 4 will house the Tony Mauldin History Room, named after long-time Chief Tony Mauldin, who served for 22 years before passing away in November 2022. The history room will highlight the FVFD’s rich history. The centerpiece will be a fully restored 1945 Mack Truck, the first truck bought by the Town of Fuquay Springs. Fuquay Springs and Varina merged to become Fuquay-Varina in 1963.
Station 4 was designed by Davis Kane Architects and constructed by Bobbitt Construction.
