Souris has outgrown its firehall, and is going to need some help

With some of its rescue equipment already being stored outdoors, the eastern P.E.I. town of Souris is making plans for a new firehall, but it is going to need federal and provincial funding for the new building.

The current firehall on Main Street was designed for two trucks. It is currently holding three pumpers, one tanker pumper, one rescue truck, a forestry truck and a side-by-side ATV, said Mayor Jo-Anne Dunphy. There is no space for the department's marine rescue craft.

"They're all needed, so we need a new fire hall," said Dunphy.

"There's very little room between the trucks and it's not really easy to put the trucks into the building and it's not really safe."

The town has already purchased land for the new firehall, says Souris Mayor Jo-Anne Dunphy. (Wayne Thibodeau/CBC)

Nor is there enough space for the town's 29 firefighters to park when they respond to a call, said Dunphy. With 20 spaces at the hall, any firefighters beyond that have to just park as close to the hall as they can.

The extra time spent getting from nearby parking to the firehall can be crucial.

"It's very important," said Dunphy.

"The quicker they can get to the fire department and into the trucks the quicker they can get to the call."

The need for new space doesn't stop there. The town is currently saving for a new platform or ladder truck. There hasn't been a need for a ladder truck previously in the rural community, but as the Island's population grows there is a new trend toward building multi-storey buildings for the new residents.

The town has already purchased land on MacPhee Avenue for the fire hall. The 1.6 hectares would have space for the larger building and more parking, said Dunphy, but there is no way the town can afford the estimated $8-9 million to complete the project.

The town is applying to both the federal and provincial governments for assistance.