Following the conclusion of Tuesday’s city council meeting, city officials were given a tour of the new bunkhouse at Fire Station No. 2, located at 1511 Indian Creek Drive.

Previously, firefighters slept in the same room and shared a restroom with one toilet and one shower. The new addition – built by Cody Smith Construction – features four individual rooms for sleeping with doors, as well as two restrooms featuring one shower and one toilet each.

“Having improvements to Station No. 2 were well past due,” said City Manager Emily Crawford. It gives our firefighters who serve this district an opportunity to have some first-class facilities. I’m pleased we were able to make this improvement for our firefighters.”

Currently three firefighters work out of the 11,500 square foot facility, but Brownwood Fire Chief Eric Hicks said there could be as many as five now stationed.

“The project turned out very well,” Hicks added. “Our local builder Cody Smith did an excellent job. I want thank the council and mayor for their support. This was a greatly needed project.”

In November 2020, the Brownwood City Council unanimously approved a bid from Cody Smith Construction to build 1,056 square-foot addition with a full brick exterior at a cost of $150,000.

Regarding the financing for the project, Hicks said at the time, “There’s $120,000 set aside in the bond fund for this. That leaves $30,000 unaccounted for. With that short fall the finance director is recommending that come from reserves, but we do have another option where we can take that from capital items and general fund items to make up that sum.”

Fire Station No. 2 was built in 1971 with no significant upgrades since construction. The former room in which firefighters slept will be turned into a workout room.

With the final inspection of the facility taking place early Tuesday morning, firefighters will soon be occupying the new rooms.