The city of Jennings is moving forward with plans to build two new fire stations.

City officials are seeking to relocate Fire Station 2 from near the parish fairgrounds to an area on La. 102 south after the station was damaged by Hurricane Laura in 2020. The city is also looking to add a third fire station off La. 26 to respond to economic growth north of the interstate.

“These are both projects that the city has needed for a long time,” Mayor Henry Guinn said.

Each of the new fire stations are expected to cost between $600,000 to $800,000 to build. The city plans to use money from its general fund to build the new stations.

Both stations will feature sleeping quarters for up to two firefighters, showers, break rooms and kitchens. The facilities will also have three bay areas for vehicles and apparatus.

The stations will be manned by on-call firefighters with volunteers assisting with calls.

Plans for relocating Fire Station 2 have been included in the new fiscal year budget and city officials hope to finalize a land purchase soon. Plans for Fire Station 3 will likely be next year, Guinn said.

“We endured some pretty significant damage at Fire Station 2 during Hurricane Laura so that will be our priority,” Guinn said.

Repairs to the hurricane damage, including mold, mildew and infestation, alone exceeded $600,000.

The situation is unique because the fire station structure is owned by the city, but the land is owned by the Jeff Davis Parish Police Jury.

Guinn said problems arose when the city went to repair the station.

“We go to repair Fire Station 2 and at that point we learn there is only six years on the ground lease,” he said.

“When we saw the cost to do all the repairs, we said it’s not good business to spend that kind of money unless you have a long-term ground lease,” he continued. “Despite having five police jurors from the City of Jennings, nobody would muster up a motion to support giving us a long-term ground lease so the city could repair the fire station.”

In reviewing property to relocate, the city pinpointed the old James Ward Elementary School as an ideal location but was unable to reach an agreement with the landowner.

“The appraised value was $75,500 and the landowner wanted the tax assessor’s evaluation of $300,000 because she felt like that was what the property was worth,” Guinn said. “At the end of the day we could not come to terms because as a government entity we cannot pay above the appraised value.”

The city is currently negotiating and awaiting on an appraisal for a second location for Fire Station 2 on a 10-acre site on La. 102 south between Levi Street and Racca Road.

It is also working to build a new fire station, Fire Station 3, on airport property off La. 26, just south of the interstate. The station will improve response times for new businesses and residences expected to develop north of the interstate.

“We cannot continue to annex and grow in that area unless we provide fire services so it is mandatory for the growth of Jennings,” he said.

The central fire station will remain at its location adjacent to the Jennings Police Department on North Broadway Street.