City of Bloomington Fire Department to Unveil Renovated Fire Station 1 with Two Public Events

The City of Bloomington Fire Department (BFD) has announced the upcoming unveiling of the newly renovated Fire Station 1, located at 300 E 4th Street, with two family-friendly events planned for the community. After extensive renovations following severe flooding in June 2021, the station is ready to resume full operations.

The celebrations begin with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Thursday, October 24 at 1 p.m., featuring remarks from Fire Chief Jason Kerr II, City Council President Isabel Piedmont-Smith, and Mayor Kerry Thomson. This event will commemorate the reopening of one of Bloomington's key public safety facilities, as well as the significant efforts undertaken to restore it.

Following the ribbon cutting, residents are invited to an Open House on Saturday, October 26, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.. This family-friendly event will offer the public a behind-the-scenes look at the station’s upgrades, meet local firefighters, and learn more about fire safety.

“We are beyond thrilled with how the renovation of Fire Station 1 turned out. The updates have truly transformed this facility into a state-of-the-art space, allowing us to enhance our operations and respond even more efficiently to the needs of our community,” says Max Litwin, Deputy Fire Chief. “Our top priority has always been ensuring the safety and well-being of Bloomington’s residents, and having a fully modernized station means we can provide the highest level of protection and service. We look forward to continuing our work in this exceptional space, serving our city with even more precision and care.” 

​The renovation of Fire Station 1 was made necessary due to severe flooding in 2021, which impacted much of the downtown Bloomington area. This restoration project is closely tied to ongoing flood prevention efforts, including the completion of the Hidden River Culvert Project by City of Bloomington Utilities (CBU). The culvert now channels the Campus River from Dunn Meadow under downtown Bloomington and daylights it just north of Switchyard Park as Clear Creek, significantly reducing future flooding risks.

Both events are free and open to the public. The City invites all residents to celebrate this milestone and learn more about Bloomington's fire safety efforts.