Construction is underway for a new fire station in Menan, Idaho.

Central Fire District contracted with Dome Technology to build the station, which will feature a dome 100 feet in diameter built upon a 17-foot CMU stem wall. Groundbreaking took place Oct. 13, and project completion is expected in spring of 2018.

“For the city of Menan this will be a great structure. It’s going to be a good addition to the city of Menan, and it’s one that could be used for a storm shelter (and) for a gathering place for some things that goes on in Menan,” Central Fire Commission chairman Roger Anderson said during the groundbreaking.

The dome will be a low-profile post-tension dome shell, and an integrated gutter system will direct precipitation away from the building and prevent snow from sliding off the roof. The building will include five bays for trucks and a mezzanine for future expansion. The building was designed “so that we have a future with it. It’s not just what we need right now; it’s built so that we can expand with the building,” Anderson said.

The project will provide peace of mind for station volunteers hoping to keep equipment protected no matter the emergency. In traditional construction, roof systems can collapse during extreme weather or seismic events. If equipment is trapped under the roof, volunteers aren’t able to assist the community as needed. “In this particular instance, that’s not going to happen. The roof will not collapse in any kind of natural disaster,” said Dome Technology project manager Daren Wheeler.

The station will provide better security for locals and fulfills a goal two decades in the making.

“Twenty years ago (Menan citizens) wanted to build a station, and twenty years later we are going to build a station, and it’s a big deal,” Anderson said.

Dome Technology constructs architectural buildings and safe shelters around the world and is certified with the National Storm Shelter Association. Each project is customized to a customer’s needs and specifications. For more information, visit the architecture page on our website.