If a fire were to happen across the road from the fire station on Airport road in Rock Hill the fire trucks inside would stay put.There's no uniforms in closets – no one cooking food -- The station isn't manned. Chief Mike Blackman says the reason for that is the city got a sweet deal on building it.
"We had an opportunity to build two at the same time, to save money one project manager and it made sense for tax payer's money," said Chief Mike Blackman.
The price tag was $2.1 million for both… in doing so the City saved money on building supplies, and equipment. However the second station on Airport road… well it's waiting for occupants for two years now.
The station isn't technically all the way empty – I mean they have fire trucks and firefighting equipment here but – if you're looking for someone to operate all this stuff you won't find that until April."
"We hired 12 that'll go to this station, they're in recruit class right now that started the beginning of February They graduate April 29 and April 30th a Saturday we put them in this station," said Blackmon.
The Fire Inspectors are using the building as office space right now, so the building isn't just sitting here collecting dust.
Chief Blackmon says if the economy hadn't turned south and money was tight the station would've been up and running for firefighting duties long ago.
"We have to look at some ways to thinking outside the box and doing some things to have those cost savings."
So come spring time the building should start doing what it was designed to do – help save lives.
There are several departments that cover the area around the new station. The next fire station is about four miles away, but if a fire would to happen three Engine companies would respond.
