First sod at the Waregem fire station

In the pouring rain, the first sod was given on Saturday for a new barracks where the fire extinguishers from Waregem and Beveren-Leie will have their base of operations at the end of 2022. This involves an investment of almost 5 million euros.

The current barracks, along the Weversstraat in Waregem, have served for no less than 45 years. However, the converted factory is decrepit and a solution has been pressing for some time. This also applies to the barracks in the Liebaardstraat in Beveren-Leie, which was taken into use in 1979.
But improvement is in sight, near the intersection of Gentseweg and Expresweg in Sint-Eloois-Vijve. A modern barracks will be built there, intended for the 32 Waregem fire extinguishers and the 18 troops from Beveren-Leie.

Acting zone commander Jan Leenknecht, Waregem's mayor Kurt Vanryckeghem and Fluvia chairman Francis Benoit, among others, broke ground on the spot where a brand new fire station should be built by the end of 2022, along Gentseweg in Sint-Eloois-Vijve

A delegation of sprayers from the Waregem and Beveren-Leie posts were also present at the first sod at the site where a brand new fire station is to be built by the end of 2022.

Design presentation fire station

The new fire station will be built in collaboration with the Fluvia emergency zone. In the multi-year plans 2020-2025, the city council released 3,500,000 euros for the new barracks, on top of the 1,242,000 euros from the previous legislature. The posts of Waregem and Beveren-Leie will find joint accommodation in the new building. The choice fell on the location in Sint-Eloois-Vijve, because of its strategic location along the N382 regional road. In addition to all sub-municipalities, Wielsbeke and Zulte can also be served. The building will be located at the intersection of Gentseweg and Expresweg (N382) in the borough of Sint-Eloois-Vijve.

photo left: this is how the new fire station will look from the Expresweg (N382)
photo middle: the entrance
photo right: the front facade of the barracks, along the Gentseweg