West Fargo Fire Station Renovation

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Photos by Hillary Ehlen

With the rate at which West Fargo has been expanding to the south, the city built a new fire hall in 2011 for volunteer firefighters. However, this station will soon become a combination station, meaning that full-time firefighters will be living there while on duty. Captain Levi Nesvold and Chief Daniel Fuller of the West Fargo Fire Department have collaborated with Terry Bartsh of Century Builders to create living quarters that will make volunteer and full-time emergency responders feel at home between calls. Now, let us take you on a tour of the space that they have made their own.

Second Home

“This is where we’re going to live. This is our second home,” said Captain Nesvold as he opened the door to the second floor of the fire station and lead us into the living quarters. The space features an open-concept kitchen, dining and theater room, and down the hall are two bathrooms, a gym and bedrooms. “The Chief and I wanted to separate the downstairs from the upstairs because you can go out on some pretty stressful calls, so it’s nice to have a place to relax,” Captain Nesvold explained.

The Renovation Process

“This is where we’re going to live. This is our second home,” said Captain Nesvold as he opened the door to the second floor of the fire station and lead us into the living quarters. The space features an open-concept kitchen, dining and theater room, and down the hall are two bathrooms, a gym and bedrooms. “The Chief and I wanted to separate the downstairs from the upstairs because you can go out on some pretty stressful calls, so it’s nice to have a place to relax,” Captain Nesvold explained.

Kitchen

The kitchen features every amenity that the firefighters would need at home. This is where their day usually begins with a cup of coffee, followed by chores, training and lunch. Just like any house, the kitchen is where the whole family comes together, so there had to be enough for all of the firefighters on duty to cook.

Not pictured is an attached laundry room. Cancer is a leading cause of death for firefighters because they regularly come into contact with carcinogens when out on calls, so being able to change out of their uniforms immediately after returning to the station is a necessary precaution.

Dining Room

The dining room was also designed with accommodating all of the firefighters on duty, as well as local police officers, in mind. Below the fire station is a substation for the West Fargo Police Department, and those officers are welcome to use the second floor as well. Captain Nesvold and Chief Fuller noted that officers had difficulty sitting in the conference room with their duty belts on, so they chose chairs without arms for the dining room on the second floor.

Theater Room

The theater room features dream loungers, which are also wide enough for officers to sit in comfortably with their duty belts on.

Bathrooms

Both bathrooms on the second floor are complete with showers, which also help to reduce prolonged contact with carcinogens after firefighters come back from calls.

Fire Pole

One thing that sets the West Fargo fire station apart from other newer fire stations is the addition of a fire pole. “A lot of stations are going away from them, but we really wanted one,” Captain Nesvold said. The fire pole was made locally in Moorhead by S&M Enterprises.

Gym

After 5 p.m., the firefighters have downtime, which they typically like to spend in the theater room or in the gym. The gym includes equipment from PRx Performance, a local business that was featured on SharkTank, and equipment donated from Family Wellness. In addition, one of the exercise bikes was won in a Five Alarm Crossfit Challenge between different departments.

Here at Design & Living Magazine, we are extremely thankful for these emergency responders and we so are happy to see that they have what they need to transition into a combination station as of January 2019. Congratulations and happy holidays to Captain Nesvold, Chief Fuller, the West Fargo Fire Department, Century Builders and their families from all of us here at Spotlight.