The Lynden Fire Department is bursting at its proverbial seams. That might be because the Fourth Street station remains at the same dimensions as when it was built 50 years ago.
Of course, in reality there has been growth of the department, and the city, in the meantime.
Lynden Fire Chief Mark Billmire said the station originally functioned for an all-volunteer firefighter crew. Then the department grew toward hiring full-time firefighters, adding offices and storage in the process. Existing space was remodeled and repurposed. Physical expansion is deterred by the brick construction of the building.
Now fire response crews are on 24-hour shifts.
Billmire said the department plans to add a second story above its north portion consisting of bedrooms and a locker room facility with showers.
“We’ve kind of outgrown the station. It was not designed for living quarters,” Billmire said. “That’s our intent, to allow for extra bedrooms and locker rooms, shower rooms — make it a little more livable for the firefighters.”
That second story could have a little vintage flair with it.