The Vienna Fire Protection District has begun construction of its Station No. 2, on Highway 42 West of Vienna. 

“After several years of planning and after generous support from our community, the long-awaited Fire Station Two project is scheduled to proceed” said Fire Board President Larry Kampeter.

The new building, a 40 ft. x 60 ft metal lined exterior and interior, which will be 2,400 square feet, will be very close in structure and style to Vienna Fire’s firehouse near Vienna City Hall. 

The new No. 2 Station eventually will house a pumper, a brush truck, and a tanker to achieve better response times to properties west of Vienna. 

“For us to grow as a proactive department and to be able to handle more challenging incidents as time goes on, we are in need of this space,” said Vienna Fire Chief Mike Smith. The department also is proud to serve as a mutual aid partner, providing assistance to neighboring fire and EMS departments. In recent years, however, it had become a struggle to reach portions of our remote service area in a timely manner.

With this new fire station, the Vienna FPD will improve its response to emergency calls, both in its district and through its mutual aid agreements with Osage and Pulaski counties, as the fire district and volunteer firemen continue providing an invaluable service to residents of this area in Maries County.

Kampeter said Stricklan Foundation and Flatwork has poured the concrete walls and will be pouring the floor soon. Derek Groene Construction will be constructing the metal building. The costs for the construction will be about $100,000. Kampeter said the No 2 Station is something the firemen told district voters they planned to do when the district patrons passed the fire district tax, which has helped the Vienna Fire Department have a reliable income each year. The department receives about $80,000 annually in tax revenue to operate. This is compared to the volunteer dues of about $40,000, if they received it, each year previously before the fire tax district was approved by voters. Kampeter said the fire board checked and considered many options before choosing the location at Highway 42 West at MCR 212. Also, the land was donated by Lawrence Buschmann. “It had the best benefit,” Kampeter said about the choice. 

The fire district has received a grant of $50,000 from the Schwartze Foundation, which is a big help. The district’s board also recently agreed to purchase for about $200,000 a new tanker pumper on a 2011 model truck. This is scheduled to arrive in September and will be located at the station in Vienna with that station’s current tanker pumper being moved to service the new Station No. 2. The fire district will have to borrow money to pay for it all, but Kampeter said they will make the budget work.

He said they all are pleased with the impact the new station on Highway 42 West will have on the ISO ratings. This will save property owners money on insurance premiums. In Vienna, the ISO rating is 5, but beyond five miles from the Vienna station, the rating climbs to 10. The new station will bring down the ISO ratings in that area. Kampeter said response times will be better in the area, too, especially since several of the volunteer firemen live near the new station and will respond to those calls.

All of the firemen are volunteers, and they play a critical role in keeping this small community thriving and safe. It is imperative they have access to the modern apparatuses and tools they need. Quality and reliable emergency services are critical to ensuring the safety of the residents of Maries, Osage and Pulaski counties, Smith said.

The Vienna Fire Protection District provides fire protection and emergency services to an estimated 4,000 residents and an estimated 10,000 commuters who pass through the district on a daily basis.