Larne Fire Station’s £1.25m upgrade starts

A £1.25m refurbishment has commenced at Larne Fire Station five years after the station was damaged during a break-in and an appliance was stolen.
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A fire engine was driven out of the fire station and crashed at Glenarm Road damaging houses and cars during an early morning rampage through the town in March 2016.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) has not returned to the premises at Agnew Street since the incident and is currently based near the harbour at Redlands Road.

Chief Fire and Rescue Officer Michael Graham said: “The refurbishment of Larne Fire Station is a £1.25m capital investment to support our emergency response in the local area.

Watch Commander Tommy Torbitt from Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and Seamus Woulahan of Seaview Developments outside Larne Fire Station which is currently being refurbished.Watch Commander Tommy Torbitt from Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and Seamus Woulahan of Seaview Developments outside Larne Fire Station which is currently being refurbished.
Watch Commander Tommy Torbitt from Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and Seamus Woulahan of Seaview Developments outside Larne Fire Station which is currently being refurbished.

“It includes a total refurbishment of the fire station, an extension and the construction of a new bespoke training tower. The anticipated completion date for this project is December 1 2021.

“The refurbishment will significantly improve the welfare facilities for local firefighters and upgrade and modernise the station.

“The new training tower will enhance firefighter training in station for the wide variety of incidents they respond to, as well as allowing them to better prepare for specific incidents in Larne Port.

“While still accommodating two fire appliances, the reconfiguration and redesign of the station will better support our firefighters in the delivery of a modern day fire and rescue service.”

Throughout the planned refurbishment, firefighters will continue to operate out of temporary accommodation and their ability to respond to incidents will not be impacted, according to NIFRS.

Mr Graham added: “I would like to thank all our firefighters in Larne Fire Station for their hard work in protecting their local community and their continued patience over the course of this project.”

NIFRS also has a development plan for the fire station at Largy Road in Carnlough.

A planning application has been lodged with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for an extension to the existing station for a watch commander’s office and gym.

Click here to read: Larne fire treated as ‘deliberate’

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