Residents of Henefer now have a fire station with around-the-clock staffing for the first time in the small community’s history, thanks to a federal grant that allowed the North Summit Fire District to remodel its South Henefer Road facility. The building had already been in use as a fire stat ion. However, grant funding helped the department finance an approximately $400,000 upgrade to install bedrooms for firefighters so they can be on-call in the area 24/7. “About two and a half months ago, we took on the project of remodeling this building to be ready to house firefighters in here,” said Tyler Rowser, a battalion chief with the North Summit Fire District. “We have a … different place from where it was before.” Community members were invited to tour the updated fire station as part of an open house last week, getting a glimpse of the firefighters’ living quarters and the garage where emergency equipment is stored. “Having a better functioning facility here is important to the community and to our firefighters because it’s a safer environment for them,” Rowser said. “We were able to get a system to help extract all the exhaust out of the bays when the trucks start up. … We were able to incorporate that into this project as well to help with getting that out and with cancer prevention.” Rowser called the remodeled building a “milestone” for the Henefer community, saying the Fire District plans to station three firefighters at the location to increase response times to incidents in Henefer. Previously, first responders would travel to Henefer from Coalville or Morgan County, which added approximately 10 minutes to response times. North Summit Fire Chief Ben Nielson shared similar sentiments in a speech at the open house shortly before a group of firefighters cut through a firehose with the jaws of life, the nickname for a hydraulic-powered rescue tool used by emergency responders — the fire station’s version of a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Henefer Town Councilor Steven Dallin cuts the “red ribbon” firehouse with the jaws of life. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park Record “This is unprecedented for Henefer,” Nielson said. “You’re going to have a full-time agency, with firefighters living here 365 days a year, 24/7. It’s going to be something you’ve never seen before.” The building itself isn’t the only upgrade to the fire station, though. Nielson told the crowd of excited Henefer residents that other improvements include paramedic rescue services, a new ambulance and a variety of fire engines stationed in the middle of the small town. “If anything happens locally, they should be able to handle it,” Nielson said. “You’re going to have fast response times out of here for the area, and then also a little bit of an announcement is that we’ll be covering paramedicine for Morgan County, also. We’re pretty excited that this station is going to be pivotal for the entire area to get better from the Wasatch Back all the way to Wasatch.” Henefer Town Councilor Steven Dallin, who sits on the North Summit Fire District’s administrative control board, said he supported the project as a government official and resident of Henefer. “We’re excited to have this type of setup in town where we can rely on having not only firefighters, but EMTs,” Dallin said. “Henefer’s been 10 minutes away from either Morgan or Coalville, so we’ve always been right in the middle. We’re excited to have a full-time staff right here.” The upgraded facilities on South Henefer Road include a new ambulance and a variety of fire engines, as well as a brush truck for wildfires. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park Record Nielson similarly remarked on the differences between the North Summit Fire District in its current iteration as a professional organization compared to how the agency operated as a volunteer fire department prior to 2022. He thanked the Park City Fire District for their continued support in the organization’s efforts to expand services in North Summit. “Our mission today is to make sure that the taxes you have given to us, the support you’ve given to us are actually in use and being used for a good cause,” Nielson said. “I want to promise you that we will keep that promise for you guys and keep making it better and better.” Dallin said he hopes the updated facility also gives residents a greater sense of comfort and security. “It’s one of those organizations where you don’t ever want to use them, but when you’re in need, it’s good to have them close,” Dallin said. “We’re excited to have this as part of our community, with an organization that is dedicated to the community and our town and our residents. We appreciate their service and what they do for us.” The post Henefer now has a fully staffed professional fire station appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less