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NEWTON FALLS -- The Newton Falls Joint Fire District has approved an agreement with the Cadle Co. to donate property to the district for constructing a larger fire station.
The fire board has been discussing constructing a new fire station as the current one no longer can handle the increased staff and equipment.
Fire Chief Jim Williamson said the site is a parking lot located behind the Cadle Co. and near the municipal court and police department building.
He said the location is ideal and near where fire vehicles and equipment are housed on the first floor of the municipal court building. He said the new building would get all equipment and personnel in one facility.
Williamson said the fire board is looking for funding and low-interest loans for the building construction.
As part of the agreement, if the building is not constructed within four years, the property will return to the Cadle Co.
Williamson said the larger station is needed because the call volume has increased, not only from Newton Falls and Newton Township, but also mutual aid to neighboring communities.
The current fire station is located at 45 E. Broad St., across from Arby's.
"We are no longer little Newton Falls," he said. "We are seeing more and more calls in recent years. The population is getting older and is a reason for more calls. The needs are increasing."
Williamson said the call volume as of mid-September is 1,580 to 1,600 calls with an average of 20 to 30 calls per month for mutual aid.
Because of lack of staffing in fire departments in nearby communities in Trumbull and Portage counties, the Newton Falls fire district often is called to provide assistance.
Williamson said the district assists Braceville, Lordstown and Warren Township fire departments.
"The days of volunteer fire departments are disappearing. It is hard for fire departments to get people since there are no volunteers," he said.
The fire district has a chief and 38 members, with four people on staff from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and two from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Fire board President Justin Montgomery has said the idea of a new fire station has been discussed for many years. "We brainstorm at every meeting on ideas of what to do," he said.
In other business at the September meeting, the board:
• Accepted the retirements of Don Placer with 20 years of service and Brad Fore with 20 years;
• Awaits word on an Assistance to Firefighters grant of $250,000 for air packs and other equipment from Municipal Emergency Services;
• Purchased a $3,000 boat trailer for the district's inflatable rescue boat;
• Approved Zachery Derry as a pay-per-call firefighter.