CARRBORO-- February 28, 2002 Long before the Carrboro Police Department moved their offices from next to Town Hall to the Century Center last spring, thoughts were stirring in the minds of the firefighters who would remain behind in the building the two departments had shared for years. Part of it was the original structure, with the front offices added in 1982. They would finally have some much needed space. As our community expands, so do our needs. The Carrboro Fire Department could think of lots of ways to utilize this newly vacated area. They began to talk, each one with a different idea. They couldn't wait for the Town to get going with new plans. As usual, there was a snag. As usual, in the form of money, or lack thereof. The job was estimated at $100 a square foot, with a total proposed expense of $500,000. They got another proposal. Same amount. Even in the best of circumstances that was a big chunk of money. Nobody saw how the renovations could possibly begin. Except the Firefighters. They approached Chief Rodney Murray with an idea. "They said they could and would do it themselves," Murray says with a smile. "Among them, they had all of the expertise they needed to do the job." The firefighters formed a committee with representatives from each shift, with everyone contributing. They planned and worked, devoting every free minute they could find to finish the job at hand. Now, several months later, the job is nearing completion. Raise high the roof beams! Much of the newly renovated station has had ceilings raised, creating much airier, lighter rooms, with windows lending a big helping hand. Crown molding was left intact in the original part of the structure. The new, spacious kitchen has backlit cabinets, high ceilings, and other nice touches that make it a warm, inviting gathering place. An Orange County law firm donated a beautiful solid wood banquet table and eight leather chairs for this room. A ceiling fan in the center of the room creates an immediate difference in the temperature of the room. I caught a glimpse of a redecorating segment on a news show and the host warned, "Beware that once you start fixing one thing up, you're going to want to do it all. A new paint job will lead to a new countertop." As we entered in the expansive living area on the second floor, Rodney shook his head. "The furniture looked so threadbare after we finished up here, I had to get some slipcovers to put over it," he laughed. "Hopefully one day soon we'll at least have a new TV." Still to come in the renovations is one last thing, a new locker room for female employees. "Right now having 2 groups taking turns in the locker room just isn't time efficient," said Murray. "Here is where it will be," he said, indicating a storage area. "We'll knock out this wall and extend it all the way back to here," he pointed as we proceeded toward Main Street inside the garage area of the station. Carrboro Firefighters used their expertise in many areas to make this project happen. Everyone else picked up the slack. "It really has been an amazing effort," Chief Murray observed. "Everyone worked together and did what they could. It was truly a group effort." And everyone shares in the end result, having somewhere nice to live their days at work. A different kind of life. Firefighters don't live like most folks. They actually live at work. They are at the station house for days in 24 hour shifts and more at times. It's more than just a place of employment, it's a second home. When these folks aren't standing guard protecting the folks in the community, they live together at the fire station. In their spare time over the past several months, Carrboro's firefighters rebuilt their part-time home. The biggest expense was carpeting the entire floor space, covering concrete and tile that had been in place for years. Carpeting makes the station quieter as well as making it more aesthetically pleasing. Another concern was the privacy factor in the bedrooms. Before the renovations the firefighters all bunked together in a small room with bunk beds. With the completion of this area, each twin bed is on the floor and in the largest bedroom they have a partial wall around them, giving our firefighters much more privacy than was previously afforded. There will be an open house at the Carrboro Fire Station on Carrboro Day, May 5, from 2 until 4 pm. for the entire community to come and see the much needed improvements. So, citizens of Carrboro, realize what these folks have done for our community by completing this job at a cost of $33,000, saving the taxpayers of Carrboro $467,000. And they save lives too! Carrboro's Firefighters Top left: Chief Rodney Murray, Deputy Chief Wayne Lacock, Fire Marshal Stanley Foushee, Captain Kent Squires, Captain Carl Freeman, Captain Walter Mills Next row down left: Lieutenant William Kitchin, Lieutenant Scott Hackler, Lieutenant Scott Merritt, Program Support Geraldine Johnson Next row down left: Fire Driver Scott Walker, Fire Driver Ray Dunn, Firefighter David Riggs, Firefighter Gregory Sherman Next row down left: Fire Driver Scott Trombley, Fire Driver Larry Mann, Firefighter Anthony Evans, Firefighter Brian Sykes, Fire Driver Ronnie Oakley, Firefighter Steve Jordan Bottom row: Firefighter Howard Miles, Firefighter Brad Henderson, Firefighter Keith Crabtree, Firefighter Jose Alvarez, Firefighter Stephanie Morris Home | Overview | About Us | Ads | Art | Businesses | Carrboro and Area Stuff | Carrboro Map | Computer Stuff | Downtown Carrboro Map | Events | Prices | Restaurants | UniqueOrn