Today's grand opening of Roanoke's third new fire station in as many years marks the last step in a 10-year plan to replace antique firehouses with state-of-the-art facilities that can speed emergency response times and save money.

The new stations, built at a cost of nearly $11 million, replace buildings erected when horses pulled engines and firefighters pumped water by hand.

“It's a monumental step forward,” Roanoke Fire-EMS Chief David Hoback said.

Continue reading… ‘Remembering the past and enjoying the future’: new fire station celebrates opening today – Roanoke.com.