Firefighters are expected to be handed the keys within weeks for the new Rastrick fire station as a year-long build nears completion.
And the new facility is expected to ‘go live’ with responding to 999 calls from June 17.
West Yorkshire Fire Authority gave the go-ahead for the building of the new facility at Clough Lane and Slade Lane.
But between now and when the fire engines roll out for the first ‘shout’ fire chiefs say there is lots of work to be done behind the scenes.
Whilst the finishing touches are being added externally with kerbing works and casting to the rear yard, firefighters will soon been given time to get to grips with the new building.
A spokesman for West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service said: “The new Rastrick Fire Station build is completed externally and work is currently ongoing to install the internal fixtures and fittings.
“It is likely that the fire station will become operational around mid-June time and an official opening ceremony will be held later in the summer.
“The build has progressed on schedule and we are looking forward to this exciting new facility becoming available for the community.”
The site of the station has been chosen for its good access to Elland, Brighouse, the M62 and surrounding areas.
The new station will be staffed by a crew of five firefighters, 24 hours per day, 365 days per year and become one of West Yorkshire’s five specialist water rescue and flood response teams.
The Rastrick station is set to replace the existing fire stations in Brighouse and in Elland, which were built in 1971 and 1965 respectively.
Andrew Crowther will be in charge of the crews based at the Rastrick station, which is expected to become operational next month
It is one of several new stations being brought into use by the West Yorkshire brigade.
They include a new one in Carlton Road, Dewsbury, which will replace the existing Dewsbury and Batley stations.
