Town of Mohawk Fire District – New Fire Station

Town of Mohawk Fired up for New Station

The Town of Mohawk Fire District provides fire protection and emergency response services to residents of the Town of Mohawk and the Village of Fonda, New York. The Fire District encompasses approximately 35 square miles and is served by more than 30 volunteer firefighters.

Following a two-year process of assessing the Fire District’s existing fire station building conditions and facility needs, the Fire District determined a replacement facility was required to meet their current needs as well as growth projections for the community.

LaBella Associates was selected by the Fire District and their appointed building committee to design a new fire station that addressed all the Fire District’s programmatic and aesthetic needs. The design team also included Napierala Consulting, which was responsible for providing site/civil engineering services for this project.

The Fire District’s new fire station is a 12,900-square-foot, single-story facility with a mezzanine. The building features a 5,500-square-foot apparatus bay with seven fire bays and Firematic support spaces, including a turnout gear room and a decontamination room. The structure also includes office and training space, a radio room, a day room, a full commercial kitchen, and community space.

The fire station was constructed on a new site while the existing station remained in place and fully operational until the new facility was completed.

Building a Better Fire Station

Design Considerations

The design’s overall efficiency, particularly in minimizing wasted/unused space (e.g., circulation space) while ensuring the required safety and operating clearances were maintained, was of paramount importance. Furthermore, with such an emphasis on maximizing space utilization, the project was able to avoid unnecessary expenditures of public funds on nonessential items.

Commitment to Sustainability

While a sustainable infrastructure rating system (e.g., LEED, Envision) was not utilized on this project, the design team made a conscious effort to select environmentally responsible products. In addition to prioritizing the use of recycled and environmentally friendly materials, the team incorporated locally sourced materials (e.g., the veneer masonry) to further enhance the project’s eco-friendly profile.

Community Relations

Community engagement played a pivotal role in the project’s success. Public forums were conducted during the design phase, serving as a platform to inform the community of the proposed project and the Fire District’s current and future requirements that led to the decision for a new station. Additionally, the forums provided a chance to address community concerns, particularly those related to traffic and neighboring properties. Each concern was diligently addressed and ongoing communication with the community was maintained to ensure resolution.

The positive impact of these efforts resonated throughout the project, and overall feedback from the community was extremely favorable. This sentiment was further affirmed during an open house held by the Fire District where the community had the opportunity to view the new facility.

An Award-Winning Project

New Mohawk Fire Station Wins Statewide APWA NY Chapter Project of the Year Award

In March 2024, LaBella and the Town of Mohawk Fire District were honored to have the New Mohawk Fire Station project win a statewide Public Works Project of the Year Award in the Structures ($5 to $25 Million) category from the New York Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA).

The APWA’s Public Works Project of the Year Award was established to promote excellence in the management, administration, and implementation of public works projects by recognizing the alliance between the managing agency, the consultant/architect/engineer, and the contractor who work together to complete public works projects.

Image Gallery

Take a quick tour of the Town of Mohawk Fire District’s new fire station!

Video Credit: Mainframe Photography | Mark Morand, Photographer | mark@mpiphoto.com