After several years of construction, planning and coordination, the entirely-electric East Hill Fire Station officially opened on June 25 with a ceremonial hose-uncoupling to celebrate with neighbors, city leaders, members of the department and project contributors.
Community members gathered to show support at the new station, located at the corner of Elmwood Avenue and Dryden Road.
Rob Covert, chief of the Ithaca Fire Department, delivered opening remarks, welcoming the public to the event and celebrating the department’s modernization milestone. He acknowledged the collective efforts of local government, city officials and community partners that brought the project to life — expressing hope that the new state-of-the-art facility will serve the community for the next 100 years.
Mayor Robert Cantelmo called the fire station project, which cost $7.2 million to construct and outfit, a “massive undertaking” that represented the local commitment to modernization accompanied by sustainability.
The new East Hill Fire Station is a two-story space of nearly 14,000 square feet. The building features an all-electric power system with a backup generator, indoor truck bays, modern living quarters, a workout room and a climate-controlled classroom and training facility. It also includes a dedicated intake area for contaminated gear to reduce firefighters’ exposure to carcinogens.
Rod Howe, supervisor of the Town of Ithaca, emphasized that the Ithaca Fire Department serves both the city and the town, highlighting the importance of the collaborative partnership.
"The city-town fire contract is one of the most important agreements that we have, as a key goal is the health and safety of our respective residents,” Howe said.
While ribbon-cuttings are a common way to mark a new opening, the fire department opted instead for a ceremonial hose-uncoupling — a meaningful tradition within the fire service.
In tribute to the bear sculpture that once stood atop the former firehouse on College Avenue, the department unveiled a new bear. The bear, named Neriton, honors the Neriton Fire Company No. 9, which was formed in 1895 by 47 Cornell students and faculty in Collegetown. The name references Neriton Hill on the Greek Isle of Ithaki.
The sculpture will be mounted on the roof of the new East Hill Fire Station, “guarding the station for us when we’re out,” Covert said.
The U.S. flag was hoisted outside the station, symbolizing the official start of service. Finally, current and former firefighters pushed the fire truck into the truck bay— a ceremonial gesture marking a new beginning and the official opening of the East Hill Fire Station.
Cereese Qusba is a reporter at The Ithaca Voice and a news editor at The Cornell Daily Sun working on The Sun’s summer fellowship. This article was originally published in The Ithaca Voice.
Cereese Qusba is a member of the Class of 2027 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a news editor for the 143rd Editorial Board. She can be reached at cqusba@cornellsun.com.
