Opening of new fire station marks fire chief’s final day
Tuesday, May 1st, 2007It was a day officials described as bittersweet.
During a combined ceremony, officials conducted a grand-opening ribbon cutting for the new Fire Station No. 4 on George Richey Road and then said goodbye to Chief Richard Lazarus, who was working his final shift before going into retirement.
At the helm for six years, Lazarus announced his retirement in March. Effective today, Assistant Chief Kenny Southwell will take duties as interim chief.
The staff at station No. 4 is working out of a location on South High Street and will move into the new 7,500-square-feet facility in the next few weeks, according to Lazarus. He said they are awaiting the delivery of furniture and mattresses.
“This is a big change for the fire department,” Interim City Manager Chuck Ewings told a crowd of about 100 people. “Chief Lazarus has seen a lot of change and he’s been instrumental in a lot of that change, including the construction of this new fire station.”
The $1.2 million station was built on land donated by B.P. America Production Co. and designed by architects Hugman and Associates of Longview and Dallas-based Wiginton, Hooker and Jeffry. It was paid for by savings that had accumulated in the Longview’s early debt retirement funds, according to Angela Coen, the city’s director of finance.
The new station houses a work study room, living quarters and a physical fitness room, in addition to a large kitchen and other living areas that are typically found in a fire station, Lazarus said.
“This is built for men and women to live in for 24 hours,” he said. “And they are as anxious as they can be to move in here.”
In a speech that was less than five minutes, Lazarus talked mostly about why a new fire station in the Spring Hill section was necessary.
“Opening a fire station is a significant event in any community,” Lazarus said. “It provides security and a common knit for the people who live here. I am very happy to have been a part of bringing this to (northwest) Longview.”
Lazarus said his immediate post-retirement plan is to take a summer training course which would certify him as an emergency management instructor, adding that he had no plans to leave Longview.
“I’ve been in public life my whole career and whether it is professionally or through volunteer work, I will keep doing what I have always done,” Lazarus said. “I plan to keep on doing what I’ve always done.”
July 16th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Yep, I’m sure gonna miss that guy. I’ve worked under six fire chiefs in this department, and he was the absolute worst. I was always curious to see what kind of silly crap he would do next though,at least it kept me entertained.
August 7th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
NEGATIVE - NEGATIVE - NEGATIVE
August 14th, 2008 at 10:08 am
I see you don’t have the guts to identify yourself. That’s typical of the people who think he was a good chief. What rank or position did you sell YOUR soul for?