Fire Chief Mike Thompson doesn't sound like he's going to miss the existing station.
"It's 146 years old," he said. "It's outlived its usefulness."
He won't have to worry about it much longer. City officials will have a dedication ceremony for the new fire station at 11:30 a.m. Friday, followed by an open house from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.
"It's going to be a once-in-a-lifetime event for a city our size," Mayor Steve Schag said. "I think people will look back on Friday as one of the most unique days Shelby has ever experienced."
The new, state-of-the-art fire station is being gifted to the city — debt-free — by Shelby businessman and philanthropist Grant Milliron.
"It's unbelievable," Thompson said. "We don't have to worry about the flooding issue anymore."
The old station, located next to the Black Fork, has dealt with flooding a number of times through the years. Firefighters must take gear and equipment upstairs when flood waters rise downtown.
Flooding is only one of many issues with the existing station.
"We have no space whatsoever," Thompson said.
He previously said the work area was "about as big as the back of my pickup."