LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - As the expansion of Fort Simpson's fire hall nears completion it's fulfilling a desire that's more than a decade old.

Fort Simpson volunteer fire chief Pat Rowe stands in the new addition to the village's fire hall and looks over the hall's blueprints. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The fire department has wanted a larger hall since 1992, said Pat Rowe, the village's volunteer fire chief.

The village's original hall had two bays. In 1992 another two bays were added along with an administration office and a training office. When the renovations were completed the ambulance services, which were originally housed at another location, moved into the hall, said Rowe. This left only one bay free.

"The hall was full on the day they opened it," he said.

Rowe said he hopes the new expansion, which has added four bays onto the hall and almost doubled its previous size, will be the last the department needs.

"We're pretty confident this will be the last one," he said.

The expansion was necessary, Rowe said. Storing all the department's equipment in the four bay hall was impractical, he said.

The hall housed two ambulances, two fire trucks, an equipment truck and all the gear for highway rescues, a snowmobile and winter rescue equipment.

"It was quite full," he said.

With a new extension that involves an open concept, the department will have eight bays as well as room to store items between the bays.

The new space will be used to house a highway rescue unit, the jet boat for water rescues and a new fire truck that is expected to be purchased in the next year.

"It fills up pretty fast," said Rowe.

Having a larger hall will also let the Fort Simpson volunteer fire department offer more training services to the surrounding communities, said Rowe.

The extension also includes a separate room where air bottles for breathing apparatuses can be filled, something that is required under National Fire Protection Association. Surrounding communities will be able to bring their air bottles in to be filled, Rowe said.

The decision to expand was made by the village council and the village is paying for the expansion, which will cost approximately $928,000 for construction in addition to $100,000 for the design, administration and tendering process said Tom Matus, the senior administrative officer for the village. Rowe's Construction won the contract for the construction.

Having the council approve the expansion was a positive sign, said Rowe.

"It showed the council is pro-active and not reactive," he said.

As the construction has progressed it has also raised spirits among the 17-member department.

"It's done a ton for morale," he said.

When the hall is completed the department will host an open house, said Rowe.

Construction started in June and the hall expected to be complete on Jan. 18. The expansion was originally scheduled for completion by Nov. 30. Work still needs to be done on the electrical wiring and the air-handling unit.

When the fire hall is completed it will be one project that the village can cross of its list, said Mayor Duncan Canvin.

"We can check that box," he said.

The decision to expand the hall was made by the six month interim council that was elected in March 2006. The previous council had been dissolved following a dispute with the volunteer fire department that brought to light many of the department's long-standing grievances, including the need for more room to store equipment.

"The fire department was finally listened to," said Canvin, who was also mayor for the interim council.