MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - With the new Central Fire Station finally up and running, there are many new additions that have been added to the facility.

A new ventilation system is one of the exciting items that the fire department has enjoyed thus far.

"The ventilation system is relatively new. MIOSHA has a requirement that the fumes from diesel engines inside of the building have to be captured and set into the atmosphere," Meridian Township Fire Chief Fred Cowper mentioned.

Because of this requirement, a new type of scrubbing system has been installed inside the apparatus room of the station and it has made things much easier for the fire department.

"We don't have to have a hose hooked up to the exhaust pipe no longer like we did in the other fire stations…sometimes they can fly off, can be dangerous, they break, they're expensive, problematic…with the new system that we have now, we don't have any pipes coming down or hoses hooking to the exhaust. It's a very clean atmosphere."

In addition to the ventilation system, the fire station now has heated bays.

"The bays have a multiple type of heating system to help dry the floors, dry the fire apparatus and keep the temperature at a reasonable heat level."

Chief Cowper mentioned that because of this new heating system, they are able to maintain the temperature needed to fulfill the MIOSHA requirement.

"The temperature has to stay somewhere between 55 and 75 degrees."

According to Chief Cowper, this is because the fire department carries drugs which are required to stay in a specific temperature range.

Another interesting feature that the Central Fire Station has is a street light on Okemos Road that was installed specifically for the fire department.

"We push a button and there's two in the station depending on where the firefighters are coming from on the apparatus but when they push the button there's a certain amount of time that goes on or lapses before it's actually activated because they have to get their gear on and get inside the truck."

Chief Cowper also described how this light will exactly operate.

"The light out front of the fire station turns red so the traffic can't stop in front of the station. The traffic light on Okemos and Central Park going northbound stays green to get rid of the traffic in front of the station, the traffic coming Southbound on Okemos road can't pass Central Park because it turns red so that keeps traffic again from being in front of the station and then if you're coming Westbound on Central Park drive, that light turns red so you can't make a left hand turn and go in front of the fire station…so we completely eliminate all traffic in front of the fire station when we push that button."

Not only are there new enhancements such as the street light, heating bays and ventilation system…but there were also facilities installed for female firefighters on staff.

"We do have 5 current females in the department and they really do a fantastic job, they're qualified just like our other firefighters, they do a wonderful job for us and we appreciate that."

Chief Cowper shared his thoughts on these new facilities as well.

"I think they deserve to have their own bathroom, shower room, dormitory and those sorts of things and bless their heart because they put up with the old fire station all those years."

Besides all of these new technologies, Fire Chief Cowper also mentioned that this new Central Fire Station is ADA compliant and now has a backup generator.

And it was apparent after chatting about the new enhancements that this department has to offer, Chief Cowper truly loves coming to work everyday.

"Turning the corner off of Okemos onto Central Park drive, I get a smile on my face."