Fundraiser is underway to improve the Fort Dodge Fire Department building’s appearance

Peter Kaspari

Organizers hope to improve the appearance of the Fort Dodge Fire Department’s station with an ongoing fundraising effort to pay for the upgrade.

The project, which is being headed by the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance’s Image Committee, aims to spruce up the station at 1515 Central Ave.

Rhonda Chambers, director of aviation at the Fort Dodge Regional Airport and a member of the Image Committee, came up with the idea when driving past the fire station on her way to work every day.

She noticed how uneven parts of the station’s exterior look.

“The doors are different colors,” she said. “The signage, I think, is from the ’60s. It’s just a bad reflection of the great job they do for the city.”

Chambers brought the idea of the fundraiser to other committee members and they all agreed to support it.

Fort Dodge Fire Chief Steve Hergenreter said he was excited to hear that the Growth Alliance wanted to improve the station.

In particular, he pointed to the sign as something he’s wanted to see replaced.

“It’s the original sign from 1965 and it used to be lighted,” he said. “That doesn’t work.”

In addition, more than 50 years of exposure to the elements have damaged the sign. Hergenreter said it is stained brown from copper runoff.

Full article.