AKRON, Ohio — Fire Station 12 officially opened Wednesday, during a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the new facility.

The original Station 12 was constructed in 1952, serving the community for more than 70 years. Now, firefighters will have a 16,800 square-foot facility.

What You Need To Know

  • The original Station 12 was constructed in 1952

  • Construction cost $9.5 million 
  • This is the city's third new station in seven years
  • The Akron Fire Department is hosting two open houses this weekend for the community

Overall, construction cost $9.5 million and was designed to keep first responders safer and healthier while also serving the community.

“In 2018, the City of Akron broke ground on Fire Station 2 in Middlebury, which was the first new fire station in Akron in 22 years,” said Mayor Shammas Malik in a news release. “Now, we are opening our third new station in seven years, which is a huge accomplishment made possible thanks to our residents passing the Issue 4 income tax increase back in 2017. These new stations are honoring the past through their design while also incorporating best practices that keep residents and first responders safe. We’re proud to offer this amazing new resource to our community and our firefighters, who sacrifice so much for Akron.”

The Akron Fire Department will host two open houses for the community on Saturday, Nov. 16 and Sunday, Nov. 17, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.to tour the new facility.

City officials said some highlights of the new station include:

  • Three full apparatus bays
  • Six individual living quarters
  • Commercial-grade kitchen
  • Fitness room
  • Equipment decontamination facilities
  • Air drying hose tower
  • Two detox sauna pods

The station was designed by DLZ architects and was built by Metis Construction Services and Kenmore Construction.

“I’m excited about the upgraded Station 12 and its ability to keep our firefighters safer from the harmful carcinogens they get exposed to while on duty,” Fire Chief Leon Henderson said in a news release. “The Akron Fire Department is able to better support the community with a new space that caters to the health and wellbeing of our firefighters/medics. I want to thank everyone who had a hand in making this station a reality including our residents, Akron City Council, the former administration, our past Fire Chief Joseph Natko, our city staff including our firefighters/medics and our engineering teams, and especially Akron Fire Deputy Chief Richard Vober who has led the management of this project from top to bottom.”