Winds Topple Wall of New Ohio Firehouse

KETTERING – Construction crews had nearly completed the first wall of Kettering’s new fire station on Far Hills Avenue when it toppled to the ground Monday morning.

Robert Baker, assistant director of public service for the city of Kettering, said the cinder block wall had not yet been reinforced with grout when high winds passed through the region, causing it to fall.

No one was injured.

“(The masons) were en route to the site and their truck broke down so, luckily, they were not there when the wall fell,” Baker said.

The fire station is expected to cost between 5 and 6 million dollars. It is one of four stations that the city plans to build by 2017, paid for in part by loans from the city’s general fund.

Baker said Monday’s hiccup is covered by insurance and will not incur additional expense for the city.

Kettering resident Jeff Henehan was not surprised that the winds were powerful enough to knock the wall down.

“An employee of mine called from a landscaping job on Fairmont Avenue to say the fence had blown down while they were working,” he said.

He said he is glad that, despite the headaches, the city is building new, updated facilities.

“I think it’s great,” he said. “The facilities that they have are outdated. I’m glad that they’re spending some of our tax money to update.”

The city of Kettering broke ground at the site on Far Hills in September. The wall itself took about two weeks to complete and, Baker said, it will take at least that long to rebuild. Due to worsening weather, it cold be longer.

“This time we will simply grout as we go,” Baker said. “We’ll build 10 feet and then we will fill the whole wall with grout – then repeat. Therefore it will be a stronger wall.”

Kettering officials said the construction company, Brumbaugh Construction, had factored in weather-related delays and that, as a result, the project is not behind schedule despite the need to rebuild.