Gates Fire Station No. 3 dedicated

Gates Fire Station No. 3 dedicated

Rochester Mayor-elect Robert J. Duffy gave the keynote address at the dedication of the new Gates Fire District Station No. 3, Saturday, November 19.

"We are honored that Mayor-elect Duffy joined us," said William A. Gillette, chairman of the Gates Fire District board of commissioners. "His attendance was an important signal of his desire to further improve city-county public safety cooperation. The Gates Fire District has been working for many years to foster regional collaborations among our neighboring suburban fire departments, the City of Rochester fire department and emergency medical services agencies throughout Monroe County."

Station No. 3 is located at the corner of Buffalo Road and Coldwater Road in Gates.

In addition to Mayor-elect Duffy, speakers at the dedication were: James Harrington, chief of the Gates Fire District; David Stone, president of the Gates-Chili Fire Department; and Thomas Tette, a commissioner of the Gates Fire District.

The ceremonial ribbon was cut by fire commissioners James Bridge, William Gillette, the Rev. John Steger, Thomas Tette and Richard Wachtman; David Stone; Nancy Stott, president of the Gates-Chili Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary; and John Haley, representing the Gates Fire Exempts organization.

Saturday's opening of the renovated Station No. 3 concluded nearly 15 years of planning and modernization of all three Gates fire stations. Among the environmental challenges that were overcome to complete the Station No. 3 project was the fire district's acquisition of the property at the corner of Buffalo Road and Coldwater Road that was formerly the site of a gasoline station. Station No. 3 was renovated in 1960 and again in 1970.

Station No. 3 was established to serve the western and northern portions of the Gates Fire District in 1937. The first pumper assigned here was mounted on a 1938 Chevrolet cab and chassis.

The new structure adds 7,000 square feet to the facility and includes four truck bays, officers, and crew quarters. The renovations bring Station No. 3 into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and will enable the Gates Fire District to improve emergency coverage in this section of the town, which includes Rochester Technology Park and Elmgrove Crossings, among other projects.

The renovation of Station No. 3 completes the upgrading, rebuilding, and modernization of the fire stations in the district that began with the renovation of Station No. 2 at the corner of Long Pond Road and Spencerport Road in 1990. The second major project was the rebuilding of Station No. 1 at 2355 Chili Avenue and the addition of the Gates Fire District administration building on the Chili Avenue fire campus. Those projects were completed in 2002.