A dedication ceremony for the new Fire Station in Lewis will be held tomorrow (Tuesday), beginning at 10-a.m., with former Governor Chet Culver in attendance. Lewis Fire Chief Terry Erickson says the new building was made possible in-part, due to a grant from the State of Iowa in the amount of  $280,950, and local fundraising efforts, which began in July 2001. He says the new building will give them much more room, faster response time because there because each vehicle will have its own exit from the building, a meeting and training rooms, and kitchen. The new building measures 130-by 50-feet, which is much larger than the old building, which was only 40-by 60-feet, with three overhead doors.

Erickson says there are 14 members of the Lewis Fire Department, including seven Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT’s), which were incorporated into the department in 1993. He says while the new building is a great addition to the Lewis Fire Department, donations are always welcomed to purchase needed extra and/or replacement equipment, and finishing inside construction on the building. Erickson says any donations are greatly appreciated. They’ll be used for finishing the kitchen area, meeting room, rest room, and utility room. Part of the fundraising efforts for those projects include the sale of Memorial bricks.

Erickson says a memorial wall will be dedicated to donors’ loved ones or family members, and there are three levels of donations: $100 buys a 4-by 8-inch brick, $200 buys an 8-inch square brick, and a $500 donation will result in a 12-inch square brick being dedicated on the wall. Anyone can purchase a brick. Contact any Lewis Firefighter for details or to purchase a memorial brick. A good time to do that, if you are so inclined, according to Erickson, would be at Tuesday’s Fire Station dedication ceremony, during which refreshments will be served. The fire station – a big red building with 5 overhead doors – is located on Main Street, in Lewis.