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Tonganoxie firefighters enjoying quarters they constructed

By Shawn Linenberger - | Oct 8, 2014

Shawn Linenberger

Tonganoxie City Fire Department built an addition to its station that provides a full kitchen, men's and women's showers and bathrooms, four bunk rooms and a living room space. Firefighters did much of the construction work themselves. Pictured, from left, are Chief Dave Bennett, full-time firefighter Alexis Shanks and Deputy Chief John Callaghan. Bennett said the department is planning for an open house later this fall.

The red button is a popular conversation piece.

Inside the Tonganoxie City Fire Station’s building addition is a red button.

Fire Chief Dave Bennett said the red button triggers a popular question.

What exactly does it do?

“It shuts down the kitchen,” Bennett said.

If firefighters are summoned to a call in the middle of preparing a meal, a push of the button turns off the stove and oven.

With firefighters hurrying off to a fire call, a push of the button ensures there’s not a fire in the kitchen upon their return.

The kitchen is part of a 2,800-square-foot addition just north of the existing station that firefighters finished building at the beginning of this year.

The department took bids for the addition, which ranged from $250,000-500,000. But with building experience himself, Bennett worked with others in the department to create a floor plan. They then went to work in the spring of last year on the project, which they were able to complete below all bids.

Construction and furnishings cost about $210,000, Bennett said.

The expansion provides the department with four bunk rooms, men’s and women’s restrooms with showers, living room, kitchen and dining area. That space accounts for about 1,500 square feet, a sizable jump from the 400 square feet in the original station that had a conference room with fold-down beds, office and a bathroom.

Tonganoxie’s existing fire station was built in the mid-1990s. Bennett said city’s population growth and increased volume led to increased full-time firefighters, which has led to a need for more space. Bennett said Deputy Chief John Callaghan and he were the lone full-time personnel in 2002. The department now has seven who have 24-hour shifts rather than the previous 12-hour shifts.

“We sat down and drew up a floor plan for us,” Bennett said. “We planned for what we needed and not what we wanted … what would be practical for us.”

The entire department of 23 firefighters — including 16 volunteer firefighters — helped in some way with the project.

“They like it,” Bennett said of the addition. “We’re really happy with it.”

The remaining space in the expanded area is for storage. The department is part of the Leavenworth County Water Rescue Team and will be storing a rescue team boat in the additional space, Bennett said.

Finishing touches still need addressed at the expanded station, but they’re in the form of concrete work.

City crews will be installing sidewalks when their schedules allow, Bennett said.

The fire chief said he’d hoped to have an open house as part of the nationwide Fire Prevention Week this week, but department officials decided to hold off on an open house until sidewalk work is complete. Bennett said he’s shooting for an open house later this fall.

The department will be observing the week of awareness through presentations at Tonganoxie Elementary School.

Firefighters are providing fire safety education this week at TES. It’s a program the department has done the past 12 years, Bennett said.

He said firefighters “really enjoy” interacting with the students. The education is made possible through the Fire Pup Program, through which local businesses donated funds and items to the department. Most of the donations go toward this week’s visits to the school. For instance, firefighters hand out coloring books to all students thanks to the Fire Pup contributions.

“They have been so generous,” Bennett said about local businesses and organizations. “We can’t thank them enough.”