Nov. 7, 2025
By Tim Hundt
VIROQUA, Wis. — Viroqua officials, firefighters, and community members celebrated the completion of the Viroqua Fire Department’s new home Thursday, Nov. 6, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house. The new 26,000 square foot station, located at 911 Nelson Parkway in the Viroqua Industrial Park, is designed to enhance firefighter safety and operational efficiency, replacing the decades old building that had outlived its function.
The event, which ran from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and included refreshments and building tours, marked the conclusion of a three year process to address the growing needs of the Viroqua Fire Department and the three townships it serves: Franklin, Jefferson, and Viroqua.
Project History, Cost and Need
The new fire station was needed because the previous location, a former beer distributor warehouse on East Broadway Street, no longer offered adequate space for equipment, function, or personnel safety. Fire Chief Chad Buros noted that call volumes had more than doubled in recent years, especially after the department added a medical first responder component. Furthermore, the outdated facility created health and safety concerns for firefighters due to contamination risks from dirty gear.
The project had a preliminary budget of $9,527,000. Funding for the facility was secured through a collaborative effort. A significant portion came from a $5.25 million USDA Community Facilities Grant secured through the office of Senator Tammy Baldwin. The three townships Franklin, Jefferson, and Viroqua collectively contributed $900,000. The City of Viroqua financed the remaining $3,337,000, including debt related to the construction. Architect and construction manager Keller Inc. led the design and build.
Speakers Highlight Investment and Safety
Gregg Wavrunek, speaking on behalf of Senator Tammy Baldwin’s Office, read a congratulatory note, stressing the importance of enhanced emergency services capacity. “This facility will enhance the ability of the Viroqua Fire Department to provide critical services to residents and visitors, ensuring that communities across Wisconsin have strong capacities for emergency services. It’s so important for public safety”.
Tara Johnson, 96th State Representative, acknowledged the efforts of everyone involved, noting the broad benefits for Viroqua residents. “This is an investment in your community, an investment in safety and an investment in who you are as a community…”.
Devin Flanigan, Architect/Construction Manager for Keller Inc., focused on the critical role of the personnel the building serves. “The building, while it’s great and it’s wonderful, the important people are standing behind me, and they should be standing in front of me because they’re the reason why we’re here”.
Justin Running, Viroqua Mayor, expressed profound gratitude to the federal partners whose funding made the complex project feasible. “We couldn’t have done this project without her, not even close. So much credit goes to Senator Baldwin. It’s unbelievable what support we got from her office”.
Chad Buros, Viroqua Fire Chief, spoke about the improved operational capacity and the dedication of the facility to those who serve. He highlighted that the new station was designed to take the day to day stress out of the job, allowing firefighters to focus entirely on their mission. Buros offered several key remarks, including:
– “Our previous structure was great, but the amount of life safety, health safety, things that are integrated in this building makes their jobs so much better.”
• “I want to dedicate the project and the station to all past, present, and future firefighters… I also wanna, dedicate it to our community members. It’s here for you”.
New Station Features
Attendees taking tours of the new 26,000 square foot facility experienced features designed specifically for modern firefighting and emergency response.
The station’s apparatus bays are equipped with doors on both sides, allowing trucks to drive straight through, eliminating the time consuming process of stacking and moving vehicles to get to the needed piece of equipment. The bays also include proper floor drains, resolving the long standing issue in the old structure where water from melting snow or cleaning would run into office areas.
Safety features include specialized rooms for gear storage and washing, complete with proper ventilation to isolate potentially contaminated bunker gear from living spaces a key health benefit for personnel.
The facility provides expanded areas for personnel, including a full kitchen important for morale and a family atmosphere and a Day Room where firefighters can relax, serving to keep volunteers nearby for faster response times. There are four sleeping rooms, dedicated in memory of past chiefs and firefighters, which prepare the department for potential future growth requiring full time staff or for use during long duration severe weather events.
Training capacity has also seen a major upgrade, featuring a larger training room with new technology that can double as an emergency operations center. This space integrates Western Technical College training on site, allowing local members and partners to train close to home. Outside, the grounds include a training tower and a separate new structure with live burn capabilities purchased through fundraising, which is a significant regional asset.
A central focus of the building is the Welcome Center, featuring a weathered looking brick wall and two large arched windows on the exterior. This area is designed to display historic equipment, including the 1947 American LaFrance fire truck and a hose cart suspended from the ceiling, serving as a focal point for fire safety education for children and adults, and preserving the department’s history.
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