SPRINGDALE (KFSM) - The Springdale Fire Department had a groundbreaking ceremony for two fire stations Thursday (July 31) on Don Tyson Parkway.
Fire Chief Mike Irwin said this event was a milestone.
"That's what we've all been waiting for," Irwin said. "It's that turning of the ground and certainly that's the start of it, so we're excited."
"It's certainly a move in the right direction in our perspective and certainly I think it will benefit the citizens with response times and our capabilities in our city limits," he said.
The fire department conducted a study to see where they can get to people quicker, which was a deciding factor on the two locations, Irwin said.
"We identified several areas that we needed new stations and certainly relocating two and three to help with response times and a bigger portion of the city is what we were after," Irwin said.
Both are replacing older building that have been around for more than four decades.
Fire Station 2 is moving from Dyer St. to Don Tyson Parkway next to the Tyson Foods headquarters. Fire Station 3 is moving from Sanders Avenue to Glass Drive off of Thompson Street.
Each fire station costs about $3 million and will be paid for by bond money voters approved in 2012.
Irwin said construction is expected to start Monday (Aug. 4) and be complete in Aug. 2015.