News Summary
The Rushmere Volunteer Fire Department is progressing on its expansion project, with a new 1,116-square-foot addition planned for improved emergency services. The construction aims to enhance facilities with bunk rooms, a chief’s office, and vehicle bays. Despite initial setbacks with the septic system, progress continues with footings completed and additional construction slated to follow. This expansion responds to rising emergency call volumes within the community, aligning with plans for the upcoming Riverside Smithfield Hospital to strengthen regional healthcare services.
Rushmere Volunteer Fire Department Expansion Progresses Despite Initial Setbacks
The expansion of the Rushmere Volunteer Fire Department is progressing, with updates indicating the construction project is on track for completion by March 4, 2026. Isle of Wight County Public Works Director Tony Wilson reported on June 5, 2025 that following an early groundbreaking ceremony in January, significant advancements have been made to enhance emergency response capabilities in the region.
The expansion includes a new 1,116-square-foot addition featuring bunk rooms, men’s and women’s showers, a chief’s office, and two new vehicle bays totaling more than 2,800 square feet. This development aims to upgrade facilities on both the north and south sides of the existing fire station.
The construction contract was awarded to Norfolk-based Spacemakers Inc. in August 2024, and the contractor mobilized on site beginning March 4, 2025. Initial construction efforts uncovered that the existing septic tank, installed when the station was initially built in 1990, had not been correctly situated. In response, a new septic system has since been installed.
As of the latest report, the footings for the new additions have been completed, with block work anticipated to commence within the next six weeks after the concrete slab foundation is poured. The expansion is strategically designed to improve emergency medical response capabilities within the Rushmere service area.
One new vehicle bay is set to accommodate an Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue ambulance, which is currently under construction and will be staffed with paid county emergency medical technicians. Until this new ambulance is operational, the station has been utilizing an ambulance from the Isle of Wight County Volunteer Rescue Squad, which has been in service since January 2024.
The expansion is particularly necessary as the Rushmere Volunteer Fire Department, also referred to as Station 30, has experienced a rising call volume. In 2024, the station responded to 207 emergency medical services calls, of which 162 originated from within the Rushmere service district, and 45 came from outside the district. The growing needs of the Rushmere community, which has a population of just over 1,100 residents, reflect the demands on emergency services.
This expansion coincides with the anticipated opening of the 50-bed Riverside Smithfield Hospital, expected to reduce ambulance transport times outside the county. The hospital, which broke ground in 2023, is located at the intersection of Benns Church and Benns Grant boulevards. The completion of both projects aims to enhance regional healthcare and emergency response capabilities.
The combined call volume for emergency services from Rushmere and the Isle of Wight community in 2024 showed a slight increase compared to the previous year, indicating an ongoing need for improved facilities and services. With the progress of the Rushmere Volunteer Fire Department expansion, local officials are optimistic that these additions will better serve the community’s urgent health and safety needs.
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Additional Resources
- Smithfield Times: Rushmere Volunteer Fire Department Expansion On Schedule
- Wikipedia: Fire Department
- Smithfield Times: Rushmere Volunteer Fire Department Expansion Breaks Ground
- Google Search: Rushmere Volunteer Fire Department
- Wavy: Isle of Wight House Fire Caused by Electrical Issue
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Fire Fighting
- Smithfield Times: Rountree Calls for Revisions to Isle of Wight 10-Year Capital Plan
- Google News: Isle of Wight Fire
