Breaking ground

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Carolyn Viss
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Dyess’ 7th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department broke ground for its new fire crash and rescue facility in a ceremony here Friday.

The new facility, which will be 41,466 square feet, will replace the current fire station, which is half that size and has been in use since 1955.

Colonel Garrett Harencak, 7th Bomb Wing commander, led the ceremonial ground breaking with a group of significant contributors including Congressman Randy Neugebauer, Texas’s 19th District Representative; Abilene Mayor Norm
Archibald; Dyess fire chief Floyd Jones; Abilene fire chief Brad Fitzer; and several Dyess group and squadron commanders.

“This kind of project doesn’t happen because I walk into my office one day with a donut and a cup of coffee and say, ‘Let’s spend $14 million on a new facility,’” Colonel Harencak said in his opening speech.

“This is the result of years of dedicated efforts from past and present leadership, including Congress, who have supported Team Dyess because they know what we do around the world. We are in 42 locations, fighting and winning the war on terror, and it’s because of the dedication of first responders like Staff Sgt. Ray Rangel, who have sacrificed for (all of us).”

“It’s not an easy job, and we owe it to firefighters to give them the best equipment and finest facilities as they risk their lives to keep us safe.

“This is not just a great building. This is a testament to the heroism of firefighters every day.”

Congressman Neugebauer agreed with the colonel, thanking the men and women in the Air Force who are the “first responders.”

“We want to make sure they have the assets and resources they need to do their job.”

For Dyess, the “assets” Congressman Neugebauer referred to include a 20-bay space for fire-fighting apparatus, offices, living space, kitchen and dining space, recreation areas, and a 280 square foot liquid oxygen storage facility.

Colonel Harencak also gave hearty thanks to the city of Abilene for “keeping Dyess running by offering to help us out” -- referring to the many volunteer firefighters who have augmented Dyess’ department over the years.

“I’m so proud to see an Abilene fire truck out here next to the Dyess fire truck,” Mayor Archibald said.

After the groundbreaking, Chief Floyd Jones, Dyess’ fire department fire chief, said he was thrilled to see the ground broken.

“It’s taken ... years of hard work from many people -- past fire chiefs, deputy chiefs, everybody. It makes me proud to see the ground finally broken. It gives us a great place to live.”

Chief Brad Fitzer, the Abilene Fire Department fire chief, agreed.

“It was very exciting,” he said. “I was telling Chief Jones, I’m jealous. This is going to be a wonderful facility for Dyess. I don’t think people realize the need for a fire station of this size. Dyess is growing; and as its missions keep growing, it needs a facility this size to house the equipment to keep Dyess safe.”

The facility contract was awarded Sept. 16, 2005, to ECI Construction Inc., from Shawnee Mission, Kansas. The construction is scheduled to be completed spring 2007.