Work to start soon on repairing Skead Fire Hall in Greater Sudbury

The Greater Sudbury community of Skead will soon see repair work start on its damaged fire station.

A group of citizens in Skead are worried their local volunteer fire station is facing permanent closure. (Photo from video)

City officials revealed at the council meeting Tuesday night that if they receive the design plans by the end of the week, work could start on the facility as soon as next week.

It's been out of commission for months since a fire truck hit it, causing structural damage to an exterior wall.

The information was revealed during the meeting after Ward 7 Councillor Natalie Labbee inquired about where the city was in regard to the repair process.

Labbee credited the hard work of Skead residents in acquiring 13 new volunteer firefighters, who passed their trials and were ready to go, which was one contingent required for the city to repair the hall.

"We've listened, we did the work and the people of Skead did the work. They're the ones that went door-to-door, they're the ones that had the community meetings and really sold this idea," Labbee said.

"And I really have to give kudos to our deputy chief Nathan Melin for all the work that he and his team have done to make sure they felt supported."

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Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre said it takes a while.

"There's a lot of work that needs to be done and, certainly, we directed staff to implement our policy to certainly do the work and what we heard tonight is that is coming and the facility will be fixed," Lefebvre said.

City officials have estimated the repair work to take roughly four weeks to complete.

Facing possible closure and skyrocketing home insurance costs, Skead residents rallied to save their local fire hall with council voting in June to allow it to continue operating as long as it maintains the volunteer firefighters it needs to operate.