By Tyler Waugh / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Work is now under way that will see a new state-of-the-art firehall ready for action in Goulds in early 2028.
St. John’s Council announced earlier this month that it had awarded a contract for the project to Olympic Construction and that work will begin immediately.
“This new fire station will support fast, effective emergency response for residents in the Goulds and surrounding area. It ensures firefighters are well-equipped and supported to serve the community quickly and safely from a modern, efficient facility built for today and the future,” said St. Johns Mayor Danny Breen.
The new station is funded in part from a $12,705,832 grant from the federal government, with the remaining costs covered by the City.
Located at 371 Main Road, the new Goulds Fire Station will provide firefighters with a modern, functional facility featuring three drive-through apparatus bays, kitchen and living areas, sleeping quarters, training facilities, and administrative space.
The St. John’s Regional Fire Department currently man the Goulds Fire Station with City-paid firefighters during weekdays until 4 p.m., with volunteer coverage in the evenings and weekends. However, with the opening of the new facility, service will expand to a full-time, 24/7 career firefighter operation. It will mean the end for a proud brigade of volunteers who have been serving the area for over 50 years.
“Goulds volunteer firefighters were informed of this change when the new station was first announced in 2019 and have been supportive of the transition,” stated a release from the City of St. John’s.
Once the fire station transitions to full-time status, it will serve the entire region as part of an integrated emergency response system, the release added. In plainer English, that means firefighters at the Goulds station may get called to fires in other parts of St. John’s, should the need ever arise.
“It will no longer be limited to its immediate area but will operate alongside the other seven stations to provide coordinated coverage and support across the region,” said the release.
According to the City, the new station will reduce operating and maintenance costs, deliver up to a 90 per cent reduction in space heating demand, and achieve an estimated 30–40 per cent reduction in total building ownership costs.
The station has been designed to Passive House Standard, a globally recognized energy standard that uses high-performing insulation to reduce thermal bridging, an airtight building envelope, high-performance windows, heat recovery ventilation, and passive solar heating and cooling. The engineering designs services were completed by Stantec Architecture Ltd.
“The awarding of a contract and beginning of construction is exciting to see and moves us another step closer to having a state-of-the-art new firefighting station in the Goulds,” said Avalon MP Paul Connors.
