PHOTO: Chippewa Falls fire Chief Mike Hepfler could barely contain his excitement Wednesday as he gave a tour of the new fire station in the city’s southeast corner. “I still pinch myself every once in a while, just to make sure I’m not dreaming,” Hepfler said as he stepped through the construction area. “I’m in awe. When we move in, we’re not used to having this much space. But we have plans for all of this.” Groundbreaking on the $5 million fire station was May 16. Exterior work should be finished in the next two to three weeks, then the interior will be completed over the winter. Hepfler said the goal is to move in during March and be fully operational by April 1. “We are staying on — and under — that budget,” Hepfler said. “We’re very fortunate; we’ve been moving right along.”