Henrico County will celebrate the opening of Short Pump Firehouse 19 with a public dedication Saturday, April 28 at the station, 12324 Kain Road.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with remarks from county officials, a ribbon cutting and firehose uncoupling, a reception and tours. Satellite parking will be available at Christ Church Episcopal, 5000 Pouncey Tract Road.
The 11,000-square-foot station opened March 3, providing a second firehouse to serve Henrico’s bustling northwestern area. It sits on a 4-acre site northwest of Kain and North Gayton roads and is the 21st firehouse operated by the Division of Fire. Site work started in January 2017.
Firehouse 19 has a staff of 31 firefighters, including a captain, and is home to an engine, a truck and a fire medic unit as well as the Robotics Response Team, which manages and operates the division’s drones and related equipment.
The station was designed and built to meet Silver standards for energy efficiency and sustainability as part of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, program of the U.S. Green Building Council. Once it’s certified, the station will be Henrico’s 16th county government or school building endorsed through the LEED program.
Firehouse 19 offers individual sleeping quarters for its staff, providing greater privacy and reducing unnecessary interruptions during sleeping hours. It also features three apparatus bays, with bright red doors that fold open from the sides. The doors are designed to last longer than traditional roll-up doors. The $9 million firehouse is the final project to be completed from Henrico’s 2005 bond referendum.
HCTV has produced a video overview of Henrico’s newest firehouse.
