Cherokee County Opens New Ball Ground Fire Station

BALL GROUND, GA -- A new fire station is now up and running in the city of Ball Ground.

Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services on Tuesday held a grand opening and hose uncoupling ceremony for the new Fire Station No. 2.

The event held at 420 Valley Street was emceed by Field Operations Chief Greg Erdely. It also featured students from Ball Ground Elementary School singing the National Anthem and the agency's Honor Guard presenting the colors.

The fire station, which is about 10,000 square feet, includes three truck bays that will house several fire apparatus. It also features a negative pressure ventilation system to generate "a more healthy atmosphere inside for enhanced firefighter health," Fire Chief Tim Prather previously told Patch.

It has private individual sleeping quarters for 10 personnel. Unlike from former fire stations, the kitchen area has been upgraded to a “commercial style” cooking area with commercial stove, vent system and stainless counter tops for long term use and minimal maintenance costs, the chief added.

Sgt. Michael Sims noted the living area has so-called "straight corridors" that quickly lead firefighters to their apparatus, and that the concrete floors are polished for low maintenance, easy cleaning and to prevent cross contamination of infectious disease.

Other features include a furnished physical fitness workout room, training and administrative offices, a so-called dirty room for cleaning contaminated firefighter clothing, along with a drying system and work room to repair equipment.

Construction cost was about $2.2 million.

Following the event, a hose uncoupling ceremony was held with various fire, county and Ball Ground leaders. After the uncoupling, the agency held the traditional "push-in" ceremony, which involved firefighters pushing a fire truck into the new facility.

Photo 1: the uncoupling ceremony held at Fire Station No. 2
Photo 2: Cherokee County Fire Chief Tim Prather
Photo 3: Chad Arp leads the Cherokee County Fire Honor Guard.
Photo 4: Ball Ground City Manager Eric Wilmarth speaks during the ceremony.
Photo 5: Cheri Collett plays the bagpipes during the event.
Photo 6: Ball Ground Elementary School students sing the National Anthem.
Photo credits: Tim Cavender/Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services