After four years of preparation, the Haihai Fire Station construction project in Hilo concluded Thursday with a blessing ceremony as the building opened for business.
Big Island dignitaries, including Mayor Harry Kim, County Council members and others, attended the dedication of the nearly $11 million facility on Haihai Street.
Noland Eskaran, manager of the construction project, said the building is the culmination of two years of planning followed by two years of construction.
“A fire station is not an easy project,” Eskaran said.
Construction of the building began in April 2016 with a $10.6 million budget. Despite a number of design changes, the project remains within its initial budget, Eskaran said.
Work is completed, with the exception of minor warranty concerns for some appliances, said Kaeo Jones of contractor BCP Construction.
Inside, the building has 16 beds — 10 in the firefighters’ dormitory and six in officers’ quarters. In addition, Hawaii Fire Department Battalion Chief Matthias Kusch highlighted gender-segregated bathrooms and locker rooms and a commercial-size kitchen.
“It’s unbelievable how much food 10 firefighters go through every day,” Kusch said.
Jones said the sizable kitchen might seem “excessive” for day-to-day use, but added that, in the event of a disaster, the kitchen will be able to serve community members seeking shelter.
Jones said the new building is highly reinforced using Metal Stud Crete, concrete panels built around steel frames. While Jones said such panels are usually used as exterior cladding, the Haihai station uses the panels to support the building’s structural steel frame, creating an exceptionally stable building.
“This place will still be around in 100 years, guarantee,” Jones said.
Kim said the durability of the station is important not just to protect firefighters, but to protect community members in case of a disaster. Hilo’s central fire station on Kinoole Street is located inside Hilo’s tsunami evacuation zone, but the Haihai station is durable and large enough to serve as a temporary shelter for disaster victims.
“I feel immense pride to be a county employee,” Kim said after thanking the many county officials who helped bring the project to fruition.
Several new Hawaii Fire Department recruits were present to observe the ceremony. Kim told the recruits the project was realized thanks to the faith of the community in the department, and he advised them to continue the good work of their predecessors.
“This is your facility now,” Fire Chief Darren Rosario told the recruits.
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com
