With an anticipated completion date of late January 2027, construction for the new Brownsville Fire Company fire station is on schedule. Construction started in June of 2026 and currently all the exterior walls are in place and windows and doors should be in before Thanksgiving.
The new 14,000 square foot building is a much needed step up from the current building according to Fire Chief Kelly Thomas.
“We brought up the idea at one of our quarterly meetings with a membership in 2017. So by the time this is all completed, it’s going to be a 10 year project,” Thomas said. The need has been growing for many years as their current facility simply doesn’t have the room to meet all of their needs.
Their current building, built in the 1960s, has everything packed in tightly and no ventilation system causing the gear to get dirtier faster. Their equipment is so close to the fire trucks that it can cause slower reaction times.
One of their trucks doesn’t fit and has to be backed out which makes the already hard to see intersection and road even more difficult to navigate.
Thomas explained, “First of all, safety is number one… when our firefighters get dressed to go on calls, we are right alongside the trucks that are driving out. It’s not safe.”
Parking is an issue inside their current building. Backing in is hard, but with their new building they are able to drive in through the back. This makes their reaction time to emergencies quicker.
This upgrade is long overdue and much needed according to Thomas.
The budget for this project was $3.8 million. No additional taxes were needed to get this money as it all came from fundraising. Pat and Marysue Michels donated the three acres of land that the new facility is on.
Inside their new building, they can also host events for the community, including fundraisers.
There will also be a larger interior training area capable of fitting 75 people, a storm shelter which can be utilized by the community if need be and a larger garage.
A decontamination room for the volunteers to ensure they are safe from any contaminants after responding to a call is also going to be located in the building.
Five apparatus will fit in the station. One EMS/Grass rig, one pumping engine, two tenders and one ladder truck.
Thomas says he and the rest of the Brownsville Fire Company hope that this new facility lasts for at least 75 years.
Once the building is ready to go, they plan to do an event that allows the community to come in and see the new facility.
1912 is when the Brownsville Fire Company started. It began as a non-stock, not for profit corporation with the goal of protecting the community from fire.
They cover four municipalities: the Village of Brownsville and portions of the Town of LeRoy, the Town of Lomira and the Town of Byron.
Run solely on volunteers, there are currently 36 volunteer firefighters and EMRs.
The new fire department will be 840 Oaklane Rd, North of Duke Street. This is located on the northwest side of Brownsville.
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