Orange Beach Opens Fire Station Bids

The City of Orange Beach opened bids for a new fire station at Canal and Powerline roads on January 13, OBA reported. Designated “No. 5,” the four-bay station is to face Canal Road, house up to eight personnel and serve the northwestern part of the city for 15 years. Bids are expected to range $4.5 million-$5 million, a number that has increased by more than $1 million since station planning began several years ago. The city hopes the adjustment properly incorporates supply chain issues and material cost increases. Once the bid is awarded, the contract will call for completion in a year. Also in South Baldwin County, Gulf Shores is remodeling the former Oyster Bay Fire Department it bought from a volunteer group, and Foley is looking for a site for a new station on the west side of town. It is also pursuing a federal grant to fund the hiring of nine new firefighters for three years.