Harmony Fire District begins moving into new firehouse
After nearly a decade of dreaming, planning, and construction, the new Harmony Fire District fire house in Zelienople is no longer just a rendering on a computer screen, but a real building ready to house real firefighters.
Labor Day was also Moving Day for the Harmony Fire District, which began their long-awaited migration to their new firehouse on South Main Street in Zelienople on Monday, Sept. 2, leaving behind their old firehouse on Main Street in Harmony.
The move became official as of 6 p.m. Monday, according to fire chief Scott Garing.
“It's nice to see that the years of hard work that have been put in by dozens and dozens of people have finally come to fruition, and that we finally have our new home,” said fire district president Kevin Behun.
The department was cleared to move into the new building Friday, Aug. 30, when they received their occupancy permit. According to Behun, the new firehouse isn’t quite finished yet, with items such as exterior signage yet to be completed.
“That sign that says ‘Zelienople’ is just one portion of the signage that has to be completed,” Behun said. “There’s a bunch of odds and ends on the inside, like drywall, patching, some paint touch-ups that need to be done, stuff like that.”
“This week, there’ll be some pretty major things that still have to happen, but nothing that we can’t live without,” Garing said.
The seeds for the new firehouse were planted in 2015, when the old Harmony Volunteer Fire Company merged with the Zelienople Fire Department to create the current-day Harmony Fire District. The new entity decided the firehouse on Harmony’s Main Street, which had been in use since 1985, was no longer adequate.
“This station has been in the works for so long … we have members of our department that have been firefighters with us for several years, that don't remember a time before this process started,” Behun said.
Although the new fire house isn’t 100% finished yet, it already offers a host of new features, many of which the old place never could. These include improved living quarters and kitchen space, a workout space, a training area, and a decontamination area.
“We have exhaust systems in here that pull out all the particulates of the air and clean the air for us,” Behun said. “We have living quarters where it's actually somewhere for someone to be comfortable spending the night. It helps with recruitment and retention.”
Pittsburgh-based architecture firm AE7 assisted the fire district with plans for the project. Ground was broken for the new firehouse on Aug. 31, 2023, meaning that by the time the building officially opens, it will have taken just barely over a year for construction to have finished.
Behun credited both AE7 and the contractors on the project for its speedy and relatively tidy completion.
“Our contractors have been great to deal with,” Behun said. “They’ve all been wonderful to deal with.”
According to a statement from the fire district, a few outstanding items such as landscaping, exterior lighting, and signage will be completed over the next few weeks.
During an opening ceremony on Monday night at 6 p.m., the new fire station was officially blessed by Reverend James Wehner and Deacon Donald Pepe of the Divine Grace Parish. After a brief service, Rev. Wehner sprinkled holy water over the new building.
“On behalf of our whole community, thanks to all of you who helped to bring this construction to its completion, and thank you for the service that you provide to these local boroughs,” said Rev. Wehner. “In today’s world, where there is often danger and chaos, you dedicate your lives to bring us protection and to bring us safety.”
The Harmony Fire District will host an open house for the building on Oct. 12, from 3 to 7 p.m.
