Protivin breaks ground on new fire station

(ABC 6 News) – It was a historic occasion in Protivin, Iowa yesterday as they broke ground on their new fire station. The new station will have five bays and a dedicated meeting room to fit 50 people. It can be used as a command center or a shelter during natural disasters, as well as allowing firefighters to respond to calls more efficiently.

"The new station offers several benefits to the community. It will be constructed of eight inch concrete walls and can be used as a command center or shelter during natural disasters. Its design will allow fire fighters to respond to calls faster and more efficiently," explained Chief Brad Moury of the Protivin Volunteer Fire Department.

Congresswoman Ashley Hinson attended the ground breaking ceremony. She helped champion this project and secured federal appropriations with the passage of the 2022 Congressional Budget in March.

"The need to me was very clear when I saw the pictures and the images of the tetris, that you literally have to play chief to be able to make sure that you can properly serve this community, it was really clear to me that this need to be a priority for our office," recalled Iowa Republican Representative Ashley Hinson

The new station will allow first responders to more efficiently respond to the needs of their community and is one step closer to making sure Americans who live in rural areas have better access to safety infrastructure.