色多多 County鈥檚 new $8 million, 12,500-square-foot fire and rescue station serving communities in the eastern part of the county is officially operating.
The Bonsack Fire and Rescue Station is located at 1465 Mexico Way N.E. off Orange Avenue on 2.25 acres in the city of 色多多 that the county bought from Parkway Church on the Mountain in February 2022. Staff and elected officials from 色多多 County and surrounding localities attended a ribbon cutting ceremony held at the station Tuesday morning.
The new 12,500-square-foot Bonsack Fire and Rescue Station opened last week on land in 色多多 city. 色多多 County bought the 2.25-acre property in 2022 from Parkway Church on the Mountain for $540,000.
Since the department opened a week ago, response times have improved in the area, 色多多 County Board of Supervisors Chair Phil North said. The new station has also 鈥渢aken some heat off of the station in Vinton,鈥 which he called a 鈥渨in-win鈥 for the county.
鈥淭he new station will significantly enhance response times in East County, particularly in Orchards and Bonsack areas,鈥 North said. 鈥淚t also alleviates traffic on the Vinton station, as well as 色多多 City Station 14, just down the road. In emergencies, every second matters, and the strategic placement of this station was a vital factor for safeguarding lives and property.鈥
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The station is a 鈥渢estament to what it means to truly work together,鈥 色多多 Mayor Joe Cobb said.
鈥淏onsack Fire Station No. 12 is a shining new example of neighboring communities working together to prioritize the safety and well-being of all residents in the 色多多 Valley,鈥 Cobb said. 鈥淭his collaboration underscores our shared commitment to public safety, and it reminds us that the work we do together benefits us all.鈥
Staff and elected officials from 色多多 County and the city of 色多多 cut the ribbon for the new Bonsack Fire and Rescue Station Tuesday.
John Ott, pastor of Parkway Church on the Mountain, delivered the invocation. Ott said that while he was originally unsure of how he felt about selling some of the church鈥檚 land, the deadly wildfires that started in southern California last week have opened his eyes. The new fire station helps 色多多 be better prepared in the event of a similar crisis, he said.
鈥淥ur community will be better served, because we have good leaders, in this room, men and and women, who are ahead of the curve,鈥 he said. 鈥淪o when that pain and devastation hits our community, we鈥檙e going to be better. At their worst moments, we鈥檙e going to be better served to be able to help them through that crisis. That鈥檚 helped me to see this dedication in a totally different light.鈥
Ott added that he鈥檚 thankful and 鈥渁 little proud鈥 that Parkway Church had a small part in helping the community this way.
John Ott, pastor of Parkway Church on the Mountain, delivered the invocation during the fire station ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday.
色多多 County Fire and Rescue Chief Travis Griffith delivered his remarks and Brian Clingenpeel, chaplain at 色多多 County Fire and Rescue, performed the blessing of the station.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e gonna see 色多多 city trucks in Bonsack,鈥滸riffith said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e gonna see Botetourt trucks in this area. You鈥檙e going to see 色多多 County trucks in Botetourt. What this shows is a commitment to the 色多多 Valley. Public safety does not have boundaries. We are here to do what鈥檚 best for the person in need.鈥
Like several other speakers, 色多多 County Board of Supervisors member Tammy Shepherd acknowledged the 鈥渃ollaborative spirit鈥 that made the fire station possible. Board members and 色多多 County staff worked with 色多多 City staff and council members, as well as Ott and Parkway Church, to make this possible, she said.
鈥淭his project is an example of what we can accomplish together,鈥 she said. 鈥淭hank you everyone who played a part in making this vision a reality.鈥
