The City of Bloomington officially reopened Fire Station 3, located on Indiana University’s campus on North Woodlawn Avenue, after extensive renovations.
The city invested $4 million in the station and began modernizing it in December 2024 for the first time since it was built in 1963.
The rededication ceremony, hosted on Monday to mark the reopening, featured opening remarks from Bloomington Fire Chief Roger Kerr, Indiana University Bloomington Chancellor David Reingold, and other city officials.
Reingold thanked the department for its ongoing partnership with the campus and was followed by Bloomington City Council President Hopi Stosberg, who said she appreciated the quality of the upgrades.
Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson concluded the ceremony by sharing a story about bringing baked goods to the department on Christmas morning last year while the station was under construction and witnessing the firefighters’ dedication.
“When I was in here in the dead of winter and you all were living in a room with no walls, I thought ‘this is this is unbelievable, what our firefighters do for the community,’” Thomson said. “I’m glad to welcome you home.”
After the speeches, attendees joined firefighters for a brief tour of the renovated facility, which showcased improvements designed to enhance safety, efficiency and comfort.
Before the renovation, the station had remained largely unchanged since it was built in1963. Firefighter Colton Spires said the improvements made a noticeable difference for those who work there.
“I personally got to see the old station for about the first two years I was here, and it was really awesome to see, but the new station, it kind of has a different feel to it,” Spires said. “It’s not necessarily the same place, and it’s just kind of lifted the morale around here, especially at this station on this crew.”
The upgrades included six new bunk rooms, updated kitchens, separate officer quarters and a new airlock to prevent exhaust fumes from the fire truck from entering living spaces. The renovations also added new Wi-Fi and computer dispatch systems, making it easier to receive calls.
Bloomington Fire Chief Roger Kerr said the renovation brought the station up to modern standards, providing firefighters with better amenities.
“They’re out trying to protect everybody’s lives, so if we can help them in any way, which makes their livings arrangement more comfortable and more up to date, we’re happy to do that,” Kerr said. “And it’s exactly what they got, rather than, you know living in something built in 1963, they’re now living in something that’s brand new.”
Firefighter Manny Cheam said the crew has adjusted well to the new facilities and appreciates the improved design and space.
“I think it’s really good for us,” Cheam said. “There’s a lot more space. The kitchen’s really nice, our bedrooms are a lot better. Our fitness room and our equipment is great and it’s beyond what we had before.”
The renovation was part of the broader public safety bond approved by the Bloomington City Council in 2022, which allocated $34 million for safety projects across the city. The cost of renovating Station 3 was about $4 million, Kerr said.
The same bond also funded the ongoing construction of a new logistics center at 3230 S. Walnut St., which will include additional equipment storage, training divisions and operational centers for the firefighters.
The facility is expected to be completed by August 2026, Kerr said, and will serve as a temporary station if needed.
