The newly renovated Crosslake Fire Hall is now fully operational, complete with a training room, offices, weight room, kitchen, bathrooms, locker room and fire apparatus bay.
The Crosslake Chamber of Commerce hosted its monthly business meeting at the fire hall Thursday, June 3. Those who attended toured the renovated building that previously housed city administration offices, council chambers, and fire and police departments.
A new building that's home to city administration, council chambers and the police department was built on Daggett Bay Road and opened nearly a year ago, and the former building on County Road 66 was renovated for fire department use.
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Fire Chief Chip Lohmiller told those attending the chamber meeting that the main renovation goal was to catch up with what firefighters are now responding to. Fires have changed with more toxins in the smoke and more mental and physical health issues as firefighters respond to more calls than in the past.
Having a workout room in the fire hall for firefighters provides a nice environment, as does the ability to decontaminate before going home, he said. A 38-foot tall concrete tower was built to hang hoses to dry after use.
The Crosslake Fire Department has 27 members, which includes 24 firefighters and three emergency medical services personnel. Lohmiller said ideally he'd like 30 firefighters.
National Night Out is Tuesday, Aug. 3, and an open house is planned at the fire hall.
Nancy Vogt may be reached at 218-855-5877 or nancy.vogt@pineandlakes.com. Follow her on Facebook and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/@PEJ_Nancy.
