FAIRFIELD, Iowa — Construction on Fairfield’s long-awaited new fire station has shifted into high gear, with structural walls now going up daily and offering the public its first true look at what will become one of the city’s most significant public safety investments in decades. The new structure—nearly 20,000 square feet in total—will more than double the size of the existing facility and provide firefighters with the modern resources needed to support a growing community.
Christner Contracting Inc. of Ottumwa secured the $7.3 million contract in November 2024, kickstarting a multi-phase effort to redevelop the corner of West Briggs Avenue and North Fourth Street. The site once housed an Iowa DOT building, which was demolished in 2023. By spring 2025, the area was fenced, graded, and prepared for construction crews to begin foundational work.
However, what was expected to be a straightforward build soon took a costly historical turn. During early excavation, crews uncovered a long-buried basement dating back to the former Fairfield High School, which occupied the site before the current high school was constructed in the 1930s. Removing the outdated structural remnants added unexpected expenses and labor challenges.
Fairfield City Engineer and Public Works Director Melanie Carlson said the discovery required additional engineering, demolition, and fill work, ultimately increasing the construction contract by nearly $400,000. She noted that the hidden basement also shed light on long-standing issues that plagued the old DOT building.
“The basement was actually under the old DOT building, which explains some of the issues with the old DOT buildings including sticking doors or doors not closing properly,” Carlson told The Union. She added that once design fees, construction testing, and furnishing expenses are factored in, “the total project cost is estimated at $8,865,000.”
Despite the unexpected hurdles, the fire station project is moving steadily toward completion. The updated timeline now anticipates a late 2026 finish—several months later than originally planned but still within the city’s multi-year capital improvement expectations.
The new facility will feature a 17,000-square-foot main level that includes expanded apparatus bays, advanced ventilation systems, gear storage, decontamination rooms, administrative offices, and dedicated space for training and readiness. The 1,433-square-foot second floor will house storage and an exercise room to support firefighter wellness. A three-story training tower will provide local crews with additional high-angle, ladder, and rescue training capabilities—reducing the need to travel outside the region.
City officials emphasized that the expanded facility is designed to support future population growth, modern emergency standards, and increased call volumes resulting from development across Fairfield and greater Jefferson County.
With construction of the new station underway, questions remain about the future of the existing 12,000-square-foot firehouse, which also includes space currently occupied by Jefferson County Public Health. The fire department uses roughly 9,000 square feet of the structure.
Carlson said no decisions have been made yet regarding whether the building will be repurposed, renovated, or transferred for another city function. Those discussions will likely take place later in the construction process, once the new station is nearing completion and the city conducts a full assessment of long-term public facility needs.
The rising walls now visible from surrounding streets represent a major milestone in a project years in the making—one expected to enhance Fairfield’s emergency response capabilities for decades to come. As crews continue erecting framing, infrastructure, and the early stages of the training tower, the station is quickly transforming from a long-planned vision into a physical reality.
More updates are expected in the coming months as exterior work progresses and interior systems begin installation.
Originally reported by Andy Hallman in Southeast Iowa Union.
