The completion of two new fire stations has been delayed by up to two months because of this summer’s record-setting rain, according to officials affiliated with the projects.
Wilmington’s three-bay fire station in the 600 block of Shipyard Boulevard was originally supposed to be completed by this month and New Hanover County’s new station in Ogden was scheduled to be completed in September.
Then the rains came -- the three-month period of May 1 through July 31 saw 39.87 inches of rain fall in Wilmington, a new record. The 14.36 inches of rain that fell in May shattered the previous record of 9.12 set in 1956.
“It’s been really slow progress because of the rain,” said Wilmington Assistant Fire Chief Frank Blackley. “When it rains an inch a day, they can’t lay bricks.”