Stillwater dedicates new Fire Station No. 2 with hose uncoupling ceremony

Stillwater officially opened its new Fire Station No. 2 on Western Road during a dedication ceremony that replaced the traditional ribbon cutting with a fire hose uncoupling ceremony, representing the transition from old to new. The 15,000-square-foot facility represents the city's first bond issue-built facility in more than 20 years.

The station is strategically positioned to reduce service times to the Oklahoma State University campus and surrounding areas while serving as the new home for the city's rural firefighting equipment. Mayor Will Joyce called the facility "a promise kept ensuring faster, safer and more effective emergency management for our growing community."

"This station is more than a building. It's a promise kept ensuring faster, safer and more effective emergency management for our growing community," Joyce said during the ceremony.

The new facility features five drive-through bays and upgraded living quarters for 10 firefighters. Acting Fire Chief Brandon Halcomb emphasized the station's significance as both a workplace and second home for firefighters who work 24-hour shifts.

"A fire station is really much more than just a workplace. It's also a second home," Halcomb said. "The firefighters here, they work 10 24 hour shifts each month. So over a 30 year career that adds up to nearly a decade spent living in a firehouse in this very building."

The facility incorporates several advanced health and safety features designed to protect firefighters from long-term health risks. These include a carbon monoxide filtration and exhaust system in the apparatus bay and an air gap that separates the apparatus bay from the living quarters to prevent harmful vehicle fumes from entering firefighters' living spaces.

The station also features separate laundry facilities - one dedicated to cleaning contaminated gear when firefighters return from fires and another for everyday washing. This separation helps keep personnel safe and reduces long-term health risks for firefighters.

A state-of-the-art alarm system allows firefighters to respond more quickly and effectively than ever before by receiving critical call details the minute an alarm comes in. City Manager Brady Moore noted the facility's strategic placement and modern capabilities during his opening remarks.

"This is such an exciting day. It's so great to see so many here" Moore said. "We are so grateful to open this new home for our outstanding professional fire fighters."

Joyce acknowledged the importance of voter support in making the project possible, noting that public safety serves as a cornerstone of any thriving city. The mayor specifically referenced the fire department's response during wildfires in March as an example of the department's crucial role in community safety.

"We in Stillwater here in the last few months have seen just how important a professional fire department and public safety apparatus is for any community," Joyce said. "We got to see that firsthand and we cannot say thank you enough to our professional firefighters and Stillwater Fire Department and the services that they provided to this community during the wildfires back in March."

The new station replaces the historic Campus Corner Station Number 2, which served the city since 1938. Halcomb honored the legacy of the old station during his remarks, noting its special place in fire service history.

"Campus Fire Station 2, located at 600 West University, holds a special place in the history of the American Fire Service," Halcomb said. "Built in 1939 and funded through a partnership between Oklahoma A and M College and the City of Stillwater, it helped shape the profession as we know it today."

The historic station served as a training hub for firefighters from across the state and nation and was home to the development of the renowned Red Books and the International Fire Service Training Association. Oklahoma State University will utilize the historic space in its new chapter.

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Terry Essary, former Stillwater Fire Chief who now serves as Fire Chief for the Edmond Fire Department, attended as a guest and expressed satisfaction with seeing the project come to fruition.

"Proud to see what the team of people have been able to do since we haven't built a fire station in 40 years," Essary said. "It's great for the community. It's great momentum moving forward."

Essary, who now oversees 150 people at six stations in Edmond compared to about 70 people at four stations in Stillwater, noted similarities between the two communities in their people-centered, relationship-focused approaches.

Joyce thanked Crossland Construction and city staff who managed the project with care, skill and fiscal responsibility. The mayor also acknowledged Oklahoma State University as a true partner in the transition and in the city's long-standing collaboration across public safety training and community service.

Halcomb concluded his remarks by emphasizing the department's unchanged mission despite the new location. "While the location may change, our mission remains the same. To respond swiftly and effectively in times of emergency. To honor our heritage while moving boldly into the future, and to serve our community with kindness, courage and professionalism."

The fire department expects to complete the full transition of equipment and apparatus to the new facility within the coming weeks.

📺 Watch the full ceremony

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