On Wednesday, December 4, the City of Sanford officially opened its fourth fire station, located on Colon Road and constructed by Carolina Commercial Contractors. The last time Sanford opened a new firehouse was in 1992, when the population stood at around 19,000. With the city’s population now surpassing 30,000 residents, the newly constructed Station #5 marks a significant milestone in both the fire department’s expansion and Sanford’s ongoing growth. City officials view the new facility as “a key part of Sanford’s vision for smart, strategic, and sustainable growth, enhancing our ability to respond quickly and efficiently to emergencies.”

“Public safety is the bedrock of a thriving city,” says Mayor Rebecca Wyhof Salmon. “We are very grateful for the leadership, dedication, and persistence City staff and the building committee have shown during this process.”

Chief Matt Arnold, retired Deputy Chief Ken Cotten, and other city officials cut the blue ribbon, officially welcoming first responders and local residents into the 12,000-square-foot station, and praised both the design and construction of the new facility. Upon entering, visitors will notice a distinctive stone marker dedicating the station to retired Chief Wayne Barber, in recognition of his 47 years of service to the residents of Sanford and Lee County. Chief Barber served as fire chief from 1997 to 2022.

Chief Arnold described Station #5 as a testament to the commitment of first responders from fire, police, and EMS departments across the county. “Careful thought was put into every aspect of this state-of-the-art facility to best serve Sanford’s needs,” he said. “Firefighters call their station ‘home’ for a third of the year, and this top-tier facility gives them pride in their home away from home and their careers.”

Constructed by Carolina Commercial Contractors, and designed by architecture firm, ADW Architects, Station #5 features four bunk rooms, fitness facilities, dining and kitchen areas, communal spaces, and offices for staff. The two-bay garage houses one of the new fire trucks recently acquired by the city. Plans are also in place to add a third bay to accommodate the growing population and future needs of the community.

Carter Keller, Managing Partner of Carolina Commercial Contractors, says “it was an honor to be a party of a project so pivotal to the community we call home. This beautiful building is a landmark along Highway 1, welcoming visitors, travelers and residents to Sanford.” Visitors are welcome to Sanford Fire Station #5 for tours starting this week. For more photos and information on this project, visit our Completed Projects page, or the City of Sanford’s website.