RFD almost ready to move

By Staff
Melissa Cason
With the new fire station almost complete, firefighters with the Russellville Fire Department are working on the outside of the building while the painters and construction crew finish up on the inside.
Fire Chief Joe Mansell said firefighters are working on the landscaping outside to make the building even more attractive.
"Our firefighters are working hard," Mansell said. "They really want to get the landscaping finished before we move into the new building."
Mansell said he expects to make the move to the new station by the end of June.
"The painters should be finished within the next week, and then we have to have the drop ceiling installed," Mansell said. "I think in about four weeks we'll be in here as long as everything goes according to the schedule."
Mansell said the new station will be home to four firefighters during shift hours. There are four bedrooms in the new station so each person on shift will have their own space.
"There will be three beds in each room, but each room will be occupied by one person from each shift," Mansell said. "So when they are working, each firefighter will have their own room."
The new station also includes a spacious classroom, offices, break room and a kitchen with a pantry for each shift.
"We are excited to be able to move into the new building," Mansell said. "We needed to move to this end of town to be able to serve the city better."
Mansell said the latter truck, which is located at station two on Highway 43, should be located at station one, but the downtown station could not house the large truck.
"We are going to have four firefighters here at station one with a pumper truck and the ladder truck," Mansell said. "Two will get into each truck and go."
Mansell said the new location of station one is expected to bring the Insurance Service Organization's rating up, which will reduce homeowner's insurance rates.