By: NICOLAS FIERRO
Salina Post
The construction of a new fire station for the Salina Fire Department (SFD) is taking steps in making upgrades before completion.
Just yesterday (Monday, September 8), SFD received approval from the Salina Commission to upgrade its current alerting system. According to SFD Chief Shane Pearson, this upgrade will provide automated dispatching features. These features will allow for an audible tone alert, followed by an electrical voice notification of emergency dispatch information.
These alerts will ramp up tone alerts, as well as activation of select station levels.
"This (alert system) will be adding to the current system we have in place and with the (new) station coming along, needing to install that alerting system into the new fire station is what this request was for," said Chief Pearson.
The total cost for upgrades of the alert system is $156,590.26, to be purchased by the City.
The new fire station located on the corner of E. Crawford and Markley is currently under construction, which is roughly 1/2 - 1/4 miles east of the current SFD station No.1.
"The construction process is moving right along and it's looking pretty nice," said Pearson.
Pearson stated a completion date for SFD fire station No.4 is expected May - June 2026.