The City of East Ridge started the month of February off with the grand opening of Fire Station #2 at 1410 St. Thomas Street near the Exit 1 development. The ceremony, which was on Thursday at 10:00 a.m., was kicked off by an unusual ribbon cutting.
As the City Council, dignitaries and firemen held a fire hose, Fire Chief Mike Williams explained, that “fire station dedications and openings use fire hoses that are coupling.
Separating the two hoses is our way of cutting a ribbon.”
Dignitaries and special guests included the East Ridge High School JROTC presenting the colors as Criminal Court Clerk Vince Dean sang the National Anthem. Area dignitaries, such as city managers, mayors and fire chiefs came from the region which included Red Bank, Collegedale, Soddy Daisy, Harrison and Fort Oglethorpe.
East Ridge Mayor Brent Lambert, along with Fire Chief Williams, dedicated the new Fire Station #2 to the community because “the station belongs to the community, and we are only the key holders and servants of the community,” Chief Williams said.
The original Fire Station #2, which was on Camp Jordan Parkway, was dismantled in order to make room for the Bass Pro Shops and Jordan Crossing development. During construction of the new Station #2, both station crews operated out of the main Fire and Police Building on Ringgold Road.