The official grand opening of the new Emergency Medical Services and OPP station in Forest was celebrated Friday.
Local dignitaries gathered for a noon hour ribbon cutting ceremony at the 4,200 sq ft facility on King St.
The new building replaces an ambulance station that was built in the early 1970's and was originally constructed as a pole barn used to store fuel delivery trucks.
County of Lambton EMS Deputy Manager Jeff Brooks says it's designed to better meet the current and future needs of paramedics.
"Probably the biggest change is space," says Brooks. "The [old] building, which served us well for a number of years, was just getting a little too small. Over the years our vehicles have gotten bigger, we carry more equipment, we stock more things now and the crews are on site now for 24 hours a day, where previously, they were only on site for ten hours."
He says they took the opportunity to enhance features and improve accessibility.
"One thing we did was put in-floor heating in the garage. By doing that, it makes it much more efficient to heat the garage -- which is a large space," says Brooks. "The other thing that we did at this station -- which was a first for Lambton County -- was do a drive through. So, the ambulances can come in the back and go out the front, which reduces how many times we have to backup the ambulance."
Brooks says the shared space with Lambton OPP is really working well.
"The OPP, they come in here quite regularly to do paperwork and office work. They also have access to our lounge and will have their lunch with our paramedics," says Brooks. "It's really built up a good rapport that we always had, but it really helped to firm that up. The police officers and paramedics really get to know each other by sharing the space."
Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Monte McNaughton commended Warden Bill Weber, county councillors, staff and the emergency services personnel on the infrastructure partnership.
"Coming in on time and on budget for such an important project for Lambton County is quite an achievement," says McNaughton. "This is going to serve the residents of Lambton County very well for years to come."
Construction of the $1.17-million facility was completed last October.
GM of @CountyofLambton Public Health Andrew Taylor explains history of the new Forest EMS/OPP site. #SLont pic.twitter.com/5TRe41xy2I
— Melanie Irwin (@MIrwinCHOKNews) May 26, 2017
Crowd gathering for the grand opening of the new Lambton EMS and @OPP_WR station in Forest. #SLont pic.twitter.com/AgQjY1coX1— Melanie Irwin (@MIrwinCHOKNews) May 26, 2017
