Jefferson Fire Station finally completed, after a two-year delay

The new Jefferson Fire Station.

The new Jefferson Fire Station is finally completed, two years behind schedule. A ribbon-cutting ceremony, with limited attendance due to Covid, is planned for Saturday, October 30, at 10 a.m. 

The new station (#18) was built at the same location as the old one, 3101 Hodge Place, in the Falls Church area of Mason District. The $13.7 million project was supposed to be completed by the end of 2019.

“This project, along with at least one other construction project in South County, was delayed for far too long,” said Mason Supervisor Penny Gross. “Covid played a part – availability of workers, supply chain issues – but it is my understanding that there were extensive problems with the contractor’s ability to perform the work.” 

Staff and vehicles were relocated to a temporary fire station at 6637 South Street at Annandale Road in January 2018.

Related story: Supervisors approve plan to replace fire station

Since the temporary fire station will be used by the Seven Corners Fire Station (#28) while its building is replaced, that project has been delayed, too. 

Firefighters from Station #18 moved into temporary quarters on South Street in 2018.

“After Station  #18 personnel move out, the temporary facility will need to be cleaned and refurbished, which may take a few weeks to complete,” Gross said. “Fire stations, even temporary ones, get 24/7 use, so updating, repainting, even replacing some of the furniture, might be required.”

The Planning Commission approved a project to replace the obsolete Seven Corners Fire Station in May. 

A rezoning application to facilitate the replacement of the Jefferson Fire Station was approved by the Board of Supervisors in July 2016.

The old fire station was built in 1953 and was too small for newer, larger firefighting vehicles. It also needed more space to accommodate female firefighters. 

Related story: Planning Commission approves new Seven Corners Fire Station

The new two-story building is 18,000 square feet and has five bays, while the old building was 14,670 square feet and had four bays. 

There is a new entrance on Woodley Lane. The first floor has administrative offices, a kitchen, dining room, lounge, and conference room. There are bunk rooms, lockers, and an exercise room on the second floor. The project was funded by a public facilities bond approved by voters in 2012.