DOWAGIAC — The Dowagiac Fire Department has a new home. 

The team is now operating from a brand-new, 10,000 square foot facility at 29157 Jessup Drive. Mayor Don Lyons, members of City council and others in City government toured the facility Thursday, shortly after the Fire Department moved in.

The new facility features five fire truck bays, a decontamination room for fire-fighting gear, a two-story hose tower and improved gear storage. Staff amenities include a bunk house, a workout room, a day room, and a kitchen. The facility also includes spaces dedicated to indoor and outdoor training exercises, which the department plans to use to keep its team performing to the best of its ability.

The City worked with Frederick Construction and Schley Nelson Architects on the new building. The Barton Group served as Owner’s Representatives for the City.

“The men and women of the Dowagiac Fire Department have always had a proud tradition of providing service to the community with compassion, pride, and professionalism,” said Dowagiac Director of Public Safety Chief Steve Grinnewald. “This new facility will help the department continue this mission with enhanced efficiency and the technological advancements to do so. Not only a benefit to the fire department, the facility will enhance the entire Public Safety services that the city provides with meeting and training spaces for both Fire and Police personnel. We are very excited to operate from this new facility to continue to grow and serve the community we love.” 

The fire department had been stationed at its former facility, a rehabbed city-owned building located at 302 Wolf St., approximately 13 years ago. While the building was able to serve its purpose, the city had always thought of the building as a temporary location until it could fund a bonafide fire station. 

In September 2023, the Dowagiac City Council approved design and financing plans to construct a new fire station and rehab the current one to become the new home for the Department of Public Services. The plan created new headquarters suited to each department’s needs while freeing up space required for the South Front Street Renovation Project.

Several locations were considered for the new fire station. The site at 29157 Jessup Drive site was ultimately chosen for a number of reasons that will keep the Fire Department’s response time at or under those at the previous location. Trucks have multiple route options that will allow them to bypass train tracks in the event that they’re blocked with a train crossing.

The opening of the new fire station and the ongoing renovation of the former station are key milestones in Dowagiac’s strategic plan to redevelop blighted properties, add housing and other amenities to South Front Street and improve facilities for two departments vital to the community.

The City’s South Front Street Renovation Project is well underway. In addition to extending the Downtown streetscape to the Lions (Optimist) Park area, it will eliminate blight in the area and accommodate new multi-family housing opportunities. As part of this project, the Department of Public Services needed to vacate its headquarters at 203 Chestnut St.

“The City works hard to create projects that have both short-term impact and long-term benefit to our community and those who serve it,” said Dowagiac City Manager Kevin Anderson. “We’re proud to see this plan, which creates new facilities for the vital Fire and Public Services Departments while enabling the South Front Street Renovation Project, come to life.”

Dowagiac Fire Department Chief Anthony Stewart said his team is thrilled about the new fire station for Dowagiac and what it means for the city and its first responders. 

“It’s built to suit our needs now and in the future,” Stewart said. “It’s really nice to have everything that we need to be able to do our job effectively and efficiently. Before, we always made due with what we had. Now, we were able to pick out what we wanted and really make it our own. It’s been a huge blessing and a massive undertaking by the city and we’re just very, very blessed to be here and to get to use it day in and day out.”

A public open house will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 12, directly following the Greater Dowagiac’s Chamber of Commerce’s Easter Eggstravaganza.

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