Indian River’s Renovation & Construction Project Initiative

Station #2 – Bank Road Facility

LONG NECK, DE – Over the past few years, the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. (hereby referred as “Indian River”) has experienced a significant increase in demand for fire suppression and rescue type services.  Unlike our neighboring mutual aid partners, Indian River does not have access to local municipality or town financial support to assist in covering the operational cost of its volunteer fire service. 

Indian River is a 100% volunteer fire department that provides fire and rescue services to the Oak Orchard, Long Neck and surrounding jurisdictions in south-eastern Sussex County, Delaware.  The department maintains a fleet of 21 pieces of emergency apparatus to include 1 Engine/Tanker, 2 Rescue/Engines, 1 Tower Ladder, 1 Engine Pumper, 3 marine units, 8 ancillary support units, 2 command units, 1 Brush truck and 2 ATV/UTV units and various other miscellaneous response units.  These units are housed in two fire station facilities that protect 80 square miles of the Indian River fire district.

The ongoing expansion of our fire district region has led to the heightened demand for a variety of emergency services, including fire suppression, motor vehicle accident mitigations, water and residential rescue services, among many others.  With the population growth, particularly within retirement and vacation localities, there’s a pressing need to bolster the standard of service for our residents.  The surge in motor vehicle accidents necessitated updates to the department’s extrication tools on our rescue and engine/pumper apparatus and other primary response units.

The services provided by Indian River are unmatched to any other time in the department’s history.  Unprecedented growth of single-family homes, many of which are in residential communities, apartment buildings, commercial establishments as well as storage facilities impact the resources of our department.  Responding to automobile accidents and fires involving electric vehicles (EV) have become a key challenge due to their inherent dangers.  Indian River also provides maritime services protecting sections of the Rehoboth and Indian River Bays as well as many other local tributaries, prongs, retention ponds and waterways.  These waterways encompass an additional 32 square miles that we protect with our 3 marine units and ancillary support vehicles.

Our first due fire district hosts some critical infrastructure facilities which includes 2 water treatment plants, multiple pumping stations for our inland bays, an electric generating substation and transmission lines to the national grid, and some bulk LP gas storage depots.  Indian River participates in automatic mutual aid relationships for all fire calls and some water rescue incidents with the 7 other neighboring departments in our county.

Our highest priority and most critical infrastructure project is the request for renovation and construction to our Long Neck facility - Station 2 off Banks Road.  Our current station was constructed in 1972 and is considered a major undertaking for this construction initiative.  Originally built as a storage facility that has been utilized to subsidize and support the growing demand of our fire district.  This facility currently houses two Class A Pumpers, a brush truck and a marine unit and approximately 50 firefighters operate out of this facility.

In 2000, this Long Neck facility was renovated to include additional rooms for firefighting apparatus, equipment, and a membership gathering area. Commencing in 2000, the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company was authorized to acquire adjoining parcels for the anticipated expansion of the Long Neck facility.

• In 2000, the parcel known as the Brooks Property was acquired.

• In 2005, the parcel known as the Coleman Property was acquired.  In 2013, the Coleman property was demolished in preparation for future expansion http://www.irvfc.com/gallery/detail/4232

• In 2015, the parcel known as the Mills Property was acquired http://www.irvfc.com/gallery/detail?id=22924.  The residential structure was donated and relocated elsewhere with all relocation costs being borne by the acquiring party.

• In 2016, the consolidation of all these parcels was coordinated for the expansion project.

• In 2020, the parcel known as the Faulker Property was acquired for future expansion desires. This residential structure was donated and relocated elsewhere with all relocation costs being borne by the acquiring party.

In late Calendar Year 2024, a more cohesive plan to solidify funding for the renovation and construction of a modernized facility at our Station 2 Complex was initiated and in February 2025, the commissioning and appointment of Capital Campaign Initiative was organized to pursue funding commitments for the renovation and construction of a new Station 2 facility - https://irvfc.com/gallery/detail/53199?ss=1.

Providing strong emergency response services is a top priority for our organization and hope that this Capital Campaign Initiative will help bring the new fire station closer to a reality so that our firefighters and emergency first responders have the equipment and resources that they need to continue to perform their jobs safely and effectively.

This proposed new station will replace the more than 52-year-old existing structure and allow firefighters and company personnel to respond faster and more safely to fire and rescue emergencies in our growing region for decades to come.

The funding needed for the new fire station project is approximately $3.5 million with an additional $477,000 associated sitework and improvements necessitated by the regulatory entities.

The Indian River Renovation and Construction Project Initiative involves the complete renovation and construction of the property owned by Indian River at the Banks Road location.  This property is the culmination of many years of efforts to accumulate adjacent parcels which have been consolidated into one plot for this initiative.

The proposed renovation and construction project calls for a 1-½ story building of 16,205 SF along with related site improvements. It is anticipated that work will commence within the immediate foreseeable future and expected to be complete in approximately January, 2026 by PBH, Inc. (PBH) - https://phb-inc.com/.  PBH is the general contractor and construction management firm for this community project.

The following is an overview of the key activities that will be coordinated and overseen by PBH:

Pre-Demolition:

1. Indian River will obtain all necessary approvals and permits from applicable governmental agencies.

2. PBH will coordinate all excavation and selective demolition in accordance with Federal, State, and Local codes. The underground utilities locating services have been contacted to mark out existing utilities in the public right-of-way that enter the site.

3. PBH shall install applicable erosion control measures and maintain during construction activities and ensure that proper mechanisms are in place to control waste materials that could adversely affect water quality, general housekeeping for the site, material management, and litter control.

4. Safety devices such as barricades, warning tape, and chain link fencing may be put in place to ensure safety of the surrounding properties and public.

5. Any and all existing building materials will be removed from the premises and disposed of in a legal and safe manner as demolition progresses.

Demolition:

1. Demolition work shall commence in early March and work will be done in a controlled & deliberate manner. All materials, pavement, sub base, and miscellaneous items will be removed from the site and disposed of in a legal and safe manner.

2. Onsite utility removals/abandonment shall be done in accordance with the utility company standard specifications.

3. PBH will monitor and remove any debris that may fall on the roadway and/or may be tracked onto the roadway.

4. All areas for off-site vehicular and pedestrian traffic shall be safe, clean, and accessible at all times.

Construction:

1. Earthwork/Foundations-work involves excavation for a new foundations and construction of concrete foundations.

2. Site Utilities & Drainage-work involves construction of new underground water, gas, electric, and telecommunications services to the building, and a new underground stormwater infiltration system.

3. Site Paving & Landscape-work includes asphalt and concrete paving, concrete curbing, and site plantings.

4. Building Structure-work includes structural steel framing, decking, and concrete floor slabs.

5. Building Exterior Walls, Roof, and Openings-work includes metal wall framing, insulation, wall finishes including brick, stucco, and metal panels, rubber membrane roofing and roof drains, aluminum & glass curtain walls and windows, and exterior overhead and passage doors.

6. Building Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and Fire Protection Systems-work includes HVAC equipment, ductwork, and air devices, electrical power, lighting, and fire alarm systems, domestic water and sanitary drainage systems, plumbing fixtures, and automatic fire protection systems.

7. Interior fit-out-work includes interior partitions, ceilings, and finishes, stairs, furniture, and equipment.

It is envisioned that the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company will post regular performance and progress updates to keep our fire district fully aware of this initiative and monumental undertaking hereafter.