The 29,000-square foot building, located on Buddy Riley Boulevard, will be the crown jewel of the MVFD, a combination facility of a central fire station, department administration headquarters, central training facility and maintenance and storage facility.

“This is an exciting time, to see it all come together,” said Chief Gary Vincent. “We look forward to showcasing it to the community.”

The new headquarters will support five other fire stations within the Department.

Plans for the facility have been in the works for almost three years, after officials learned that the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) would be widening FM 1774.

The expansion will put the roadway only two feet from the front of the current fire station headquarters, located at the corner of Gayle Street and FM 1774, making it virtually impossible for fire trucks to pull out safely onto the highway.

Among the features of the new facility are a central training center, a maintenance facility for repairs, a central storage area, storage for self-contained breathing apparatus systems and a weight training facility exercise room.

It will also have - in the event of an emergency or failure of the radio system - backup radio system capability for dispatch.

The department’s 100-foot ladder truck, which couldn’t fit in the current facility, will now be able to be kept at the new location

The project was financed through existing revenue and without a tax increase, said Vincent.

Exact numbers were not available yet, but Vincent said everything included in the building’s construction, including furnishings, is under $5 million.

“I think we’ve done well for the money we’ve spent,” said Vincent.

The large size of the facility was necessary for storage of fire trucks. Vincent stated in a previous interview that 9,500 square feet of the facility is for apparatus storage.

The size also allows the department to hold training and meetings, something that has been difficult at the current headquarters, said Vincent.

“I believe this is going to be a huge asset to the community for the future growth of the community and attracting new businesses and jobs,” said Vincent. “By combining several usages into one facility, we reduced construction costs and will reduce our operating cost in the future.”

The station will serve a 320-square mile area, serving communities from The Woodlands to the Waller County line.

Vincent said the design of the new building was a joint effort between the MVFD, fire department administration and the Emergency Services District.

“Some very creative ideas went into the design and construction,” said Vincent.

The team chose colors and construction designs that incorporated historical fire station features and themes in the surrounding community.

“We tried to blend in with the community,” said Vincent. “We look at features of other community buildings in the town.”

The dark red brick color and forest green 50-year metal roof mirror close-by buildings such as City Hall, First Baptist Church of Magnolia and the Malcolm Purvis Library.

Arched windows and a rooftop lookout pay tribute to the old days of the industry, said Vincent.

The department is hoping to move into the facility the first of July and is looking to hold a grand opening at the end of July or first of August.

Vincent said the volunteer department is always in need of volunteers and that the department provides training at no cost to those who are interested in joining.

For more information on the MVFD, visit www.magnoliafire.org.

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