Athens is set to turn a long-planned public-safety project into a construction site next Tuesday, when the city will break ground on its third fire station. The new facility is designed to widen emergency coverage and put more firefighters closer to residents who need help.
According to the City of Athens, the groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at 300 Elizabeth Street, with firefighters, city officials, project partners and community members expected to attend. The schedule was also shared in the city’s official Facebook announcement.
A Third Station For A Two-Station Department
Athens currently operates two 24/7 fire stations, with the department responding to fires, medical calls and rescue situations, according to the City of Athens Fire Department. The Elizabeth Street station would add a third base of operations to that system and expand the department’s service area.
City officials say the additional station should help crews reach emergencies more quickly, including fires, medical emergencies, vehicle accidents and other incidents. The goal is not just another building with shiny trucks inside, but a more strategically placed response point for Athens residents, the city says.
Funding And Staffing Are Part Of The Build
The city’s approved FY 2026-27 budget includes $7.5 million in city funds for construction of Fire Station #3. That allocation appears in the approved budget under the Capital Improvement Fund.
The station is planned to be staffed by nine City of Athens firefighters, including three new positions approved in the current fiscal budget. Earlier procurement documents described a 24/7 facility with two or three drive-through bays, living and sleeping quarters, EMS supply and decontamination areas, and other space needed for round-the-clock operations.
A Project Moving From Plans To Dirt
The station has been working its way through city planning for more than a year. Athens’ program of work says the City Council authorized the design process in January 2025, the city selected Wold Architects after a qualifications process, and officials later approved moving ahead with construction documents and bidding.
Next Tuesday’s ceremony will mark the official start of construction on a project city officials say is intended to serve Athens for decades. For residents, the more immediate promise is measured in minutes: a station placed to help firefighters get where they are needed sooner.
