Spring City Fire Department opens new station addition, seeks volunteers

ByRobert Stevens

SPRING CITY—The Spring City Fire Department has expanded its longtime station, providing a home for a new fire engine, additional training facilities and room for future growth. Now, with the building ready for use, the volunteer department is turning its attention to equipment needs and recruiting more firefighters.

Spring City Fire Chief Shad Hardy stands beside the department's new fire engine outside the recently completed fire station addition. The expansion, funded largely through a $995,000 Community Impact Board grant, provides space for the larger engine, additional training facilities and future growth. Photo by Robert Stevens.
Spring City Fire Chief Shad Hardy stands beside the department’s new fire engine outside the recently completed fire station addition. The expansion, funded largely through a $995,000 Community Impact Board grant, provides space for the larger engine, additional training facilities and future growth. Photo by Robert Stevens.

The expansion, funded largely through a $995,000 grant from the Utah Permanent Community Impact Fund Board (CIB), addresses space limitations that had become increasingly difficult for the department as its equipment needs grew.

“We’ve just outgrown what we had,” Fire Chief Shad Hardy said during a Nov. 10 tour of the facility.

Hardy said the previous facilities had served the department for approximately 30 years, but the expansion was designed with the future in mind.

“We’re looking to grow into the next 30 years,” he said.

The project was prompted in part by the arrival of a larger fire engine obtained through the Sanpete County Fire District. The department wanted to accommodate the new vehicle without giving up its existing trucks.

The original station occupies part of Spring City’s historic former school building, which also houses community recreation and arts activities. Rather than construct an entirely separate fire station, city officials pursued an expansion of the existing facility.

The addition provides a bay for the new engine along with space for training, equipment storage and other department operations.

During the tour, Hardy showed off the new engine, an upstairs training room and facilities that include a full kitchen and day room.

The department also plans to install a self-contained breathing apparatus filling station, which will include an air compressor for refilling the air cylinders firefighters carry into hazardous environments.

Another addition to the department’s equipment is a specialized washing machine for firefighters’ protective clothing, commonly called turnout gear.

A new kitchen and multipurpose room inside the expanded Spring City fire station provide space for firefighters to gather and conduct training. The addition also includes an upstairs training room and areas for equipment storage. Photo by Robert Stevens.
A new kitchen and multipurpose room inside the expanded Spring City fire station provide space for firefighters to gather and conduct training. The addition also includes an upstairs training room and areas for equipment storage. Photo by Robert Stevens.

Hardy said the Gunnison Fire Department donated the machine after obtaining a larger replacement.

The equipment is designed to remove potentially carcinogenic contaminants from protective clothing without damaging the material.

Grant funding makes expansion possible

The project became possible after Spring City officials secured more favorable financing terms from the CIB in June 2025.

The board initially considered a funding package totaling approximately $1.13 million, including a $452,000 loan that the city would have been responsible for repaying.

City officials subsequently requested a revised package, explaining that Spring City’s financial limitations made taking on additional debt difficult.

The CIB ultimately approved a $995,000 grant, eliminating the proposed loan requirement. The revised funding excluded certain equipment expenses that the city would need to cover separately.

“We went down to plead poverty,” then-Mayor Chris Anderson told the Sanpete Messenger following the June 2025 meeting. “Luckily they agreed with us and changed it to a 100 percent grant.”

A view from the stairway overlooking the new addition to the Spring City fire station shows the department's new fire engine parked in its bay. The expansion provides additional space while allowing the department to retain its existing firefighting vehicles. Photo by Robert Stevens.
A view from the stairway overlooking the new addition to the Spring City fire station shows the department’s new fire engine parked in its bay. The expansion provides additional space while allowing the department to retain its existing firefighting vehicles. Photo by Robert Stevens.

Hardy said the grant covered most of the construction costs, although the department still had some additional expenses to pay out of pocket.

Construction began in 2025 and continued through much of 2026.

The department welcomed residents to a Halloween open house on Oct. 31, giving community members an opportunity to see the new engine and expanded facilities.

Hardy said the department had received occupancy approval by that time and wanted to show residents the building before equipment and furnishings were fully moved in.

More volunteer firefighters needed

Along with continued financial support to help pay for department costs, the department is looking for additional volunteers to help serve Spring City and the surrounding area.

Hardy estimated the department currently has about a dozen volunteers and could accommodate approximately another dozen.

The department has previously had as many as 25 or 26 members, although participation fluctuates as volunteers balance their service with employment, family responsibilities and other commitments.

Hardy emphasized that people interested in volunteering should not assume they lack the ability to contribute.

“I would say that there’s a spot for everybody in the volunteer world,” he said.

He explained that proper training allows residents to provide meaningful assistance when emergencies occur in their community.

“If you don’t have the training, it’s hard to help,” Hardy said. “And, if you have the training, then you can help, and that’s a big deal.”

With its expanded facilities and new engine, the department has more room to accommodate future needs. Finding the volunteers and equipment to make full use of those resources remains a priority.

Residents interested in supporting the department or learning about volunteer opportunities can contact the Spring City Fire Department.