The first fire station to be jointly built by the towns of Newmarket and Aurora since they consolidated their fire services two decades ago is now officially open.
At an "uncoupling of a fire hose" event and community open house Saturday, Sept. 24, Central York Fire Services, politicians and local residents celebrated the state-of-the-art 23,000 square-foot headquarters and training facility Fire Station 4-5 on Earl Stewart Dr. in Aurora.
A new era for Central York Fire Services (CYFS) officially launched on Saturday, as the CYFS fire leadership team along with the Mayors and Councillors from the towns of Aurora and Newmarket officially opened Fire Station 4-5, CYFS’ new 23,000 square-foot, headquarters and training facility.
The energy-efficient, multi-story facility houses two working fire suppression crews, which will help reduce response times, two electric vehicle charging stations, a spray washing system to improve the longevity of fire trucks, numerous boardrooms and office space.
“The opening of Fire Station 4-5 shows that we’re growing as a service and evolving to meet the needs of our community,” said CYFS Fire Chief Ian Laing said in a news release. “This facility will help us respond to emergencies faster, provide enhanced training, and allow us to maintain equipment more effectively, while also providing opportunities for staff to strengthen their physical and mental health, a need which has been highlighted through the pandemic.”
In addition to being home to the administrative offices of CYFS, Fire Station 4-5 is the services’ training division and has dedicated fitness space for the health and wellness of staff.
“Fire Station 4-5 is a real testament to what can be accomplished when we work together as partners,” said Newmarket Mayor John Taylor. “This facility will undoubtedly provide top-notch fire service to not just current residents, but future generations to come.”
“This is a very significant day for the residents of Aurora and Newmarket, as it ensures they will continue to have access to a fire service that rivals the best in the Greater Toronto Area,” said Aurora Mayor Tom Mrakas. “I’m incredibly proud of how the two towns and CYFS came together to identify a need in our community, and provided the funding, resources and expertise to get this project completed.”
