ATKINS, Iowa — Construction is steadily advancing on the new Atkins Firehouse, giving residents a first glimpse of the future home of the community’s all-volunteer fire department.
New signage has now been installed along the exterior, signaling another major step toward completion. The department’s previous building was destroyed during the devastating 2020 derecho, which caused widespread destruction across Eastern Iowa and left first responders without a permanent operating base for years.
City officials approved the new fire station last year at a total cost of $5 million. Of that, $1 million will be funded through FEMA assistance and insurance coverage, helping offset the financial impact of rebuilding a critical public safety asset.
The new firehouse is designed to better support emergency operations in a rapidly growing community. The building will include expanded apparatus bays for modern firefighting equipment, updated training and meeting rooms for volunteers, improved communications technology, and secure shelter space for emergency staff during severe weather events.
City leaders say the investment is essential to maintaining quick response times as more families move to the area and call volumes rise each year. Local volunteers have also participated in planning discussions to ensure the upgraded station meets operational needs for decades to come.
The community has continued to show strong support for the department, which has relied on temporary facilities since the derecho. Fundraising efforts remain ongoing to help purchase equipment and finish out interior needs.
Construction crews are expected to make additional visible progress in the coming months as exterior work wraps up and interior build-out accelerates. The city has not yet announced a final completion date but says the project remains on schedule.
Originally reported by Iowa's News Now Staff in CBS 2 Iowa.
