CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The City of Charlotte officially broke ground Thursday on the state-of-the-art Firehouse 44. It’ll serve the rapidly growing River District in west Charlotte. The 14,000 square-foot facility is on Dixie River Road. The building will be 100 percent electric, using geothermal climate systems and solar panels to completely eliminate its carbon footprint. Firefighters have been operating out of a temporary station nearby, responding to more than 1,500 calls since early this year. Leaders say the new fire station will help the department grow with the city. Charlotte Fire Department Chief Reginald Johnson says, “When someone calls 911 because their home is on fire, a loved one is experiencing a medical emergency, or they have been involved in a serious crash, they are waiting for help. Firehouse 44 puts them closer to providing that help.” The structure will be the first mass timber firehouse in the southeast. Mass timber is a material known for its strength and sustainability. ...read more read less