Photo: stevenmaltby / iStock / Getty Images
The City of Harrisonburg officially opened its new Station 5 on Tuesday (November 25), marking a major expansion of the city’s fire and rescue capabilities. The facility, located at 1212 Integrity Drive near Mt. Clinton Pike, fulfills a decades-old commitment to strengthen emergency coverage in the Park View area.
Fire Chief Matthew Tobia said the project has been more than 40 years in the making, dating back to the city’s annexation of the Park View community. He noted that placing a fire station at the neighborhood’s entrance significantly improves safety for residents.
“This station places firefighters exactly where they need to be,” Tobia said, emphasizing that the closer proximity allows crews to reach emergencies faster and boosts the department’s resilience. He recalled how stretched resources became during the pandemic and said Station 5 directly addresses those gaps.
The chief credited Harmon Construction and Capt. Joe Weaver—who oversaw the effort from start to finish—for delivering a smooth and successful build. Tobia praised Weaver for ensuring the station was designed with efficiency in mind.
Weaver said the layout was intentionally created to speed up response times. “Every hallway feeds into a central corridor that leads straight to the apparatus bays,” he explained. “It’s built so crews can get to the trucks and out the door without delay.”
The impact has already been noticeable. Response times in the Park View area have been cut in half since Station 5 became operational.
With the station now open, firefighters are fully prepared to serve the surrounding neighborhoods. The city plans to hold a public open house this spring so residents can tour the facility.
SOURCE: WHSV3