Construction on Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service new Huntingdon fire station and Service Training Centre has finished ready for firefighters to begin responding from the site later this month.

The building work and training facilities are fully finished, finalising modern, purpose-built training centre and community fire station at St John’s Park, north of Huntingdon.

The facilities are replacing the current station and training centre on Hartford Road elsewhere in Huntingdon which the service say is a significant upgrade for the wholetime and on-call staffand support staff from Occupational Health, Health and Safety and the Operational Support Group.

They also say the training the facility can provide “effective, reliable and realistic training for all operational staff” alongside increasing the “much needed” capacity to enable the service to train more firefighters more often than the current site allows.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service Deputy Chief Executive, Matthew Warren, said: “The project has come on tremendous amounts since planning began in 2013.

“A huge thanks must go to all those involved in getting the development to where it is today, particularly to Councillor Kevin Reynolds who played a pivotal role in getting the project off the ground.

“We now have a first class fire station and Training Centre that will provide an excellent facility it will be for our staff and our community.”

Chair of the Fire Authority, Councillor Edna Murphy, added: “We are delighted that after years of perseverance, we now have the best possibly facilities to develop firefighters in Cambridgeshire and have a new fit for purpose fire station.

“Special recognition must go to Councillor Kevin Reynolds, former Chair of the Fire Authority, who recognised the importance of our firefighters having the very best facilities, and driving forwards the development with the Fire Authority to get it where it is now.

“We look forward to officially opening the site later this month.”

Matthew Warren was joined by key colleagues involved with the project from Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, including Project Manager Jodie Houseago and Chief Fire Officer Chris Strickland, contractors Artisan and as well as Fire Authority Chair, Councillor Edna Murphy.

Construction began in September 2021. Firefighters begin responding from the site later this month.

For more information about becoming an on-call firefighter visit: our website or email recruitment@cambsfire.gov.uk.