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On March 24, 2020, the Collectivité territoriale presided over by Bruno Magras ratified the creation of a program authorization for the construction of a new fire station in Saint-Jean for the firefighters of the Service territorial d'incendie et de secours. The project was scheduled to take three years to complete. It took more than four years, but finally, last Friday, November 29, the Stis teams were able to begin moving into their new premises.
The move will be gradual. Even though the administrative and operational departments are already up and running, as the happy Stis commander, Lieutenant Christophe Laurens, explains. We're just getting the hang of things," says the officer. The move-in will take three weeks. "Lieutenant Laurens is delighted to have been able to count on all his teams, who are obviously enthusiastic about the prospect of moving into brand-new buildings, to help him move in.Laurens is delighted to have been able to count on all his teams, eager to move into brand-new buildings, to transfer equipment from the old to the new barracks, which can now proudly bear the title of Civil Protection Center. The new structure will not only house the Stis services.
In fact, the Centre opérationnel territorial (COT), currently located in the former weather center under Gustavia Fort, where the Agence territoriale de l'environnement is also based, will be moving in. In several adjoining spaces, including a large room fitted with all the technical equipment needed to monitor the island in the event of a weather alert. In fact, the new buildings are packed with state-of-the-art equipment.
A change of universe
For the Stis's 54 firefighters (including 17 professionals), working in such a structure is like changing worlds. Training tower, live fire simulator, full computerization of the alert system, a new truck, a boat for the sea rescue unit, changing rooms for the firefighters and a new fire station. a new truck, a boat for the sea rescue unit, extensive changing rooms, an on-call room, a refectory, offices dedicated to the various departments (health subdirectorateWe've gone from a small switchboard to something very modern", says Lieutenant Laurens with satisfaction. It would almost be easy to forget the air-conditioned sports hall, the wardrobe processing room, a central pharmacy (80% of Stis interventions concern personal assistance), an ambulance shed, an airlock for cleaning and disinfecting these same ambulances after each intervention... In short, a new adventure is beginning for the Stis firefighters.
According to data available for consultation on the Collectivité website, construction work on the new fire station is expected to cost almost thirteen million euros, with investment spread over five years. In 2020, the initial estimate was 8.5 million, over a three-year period.
The date of the official inauguration has not yet been set. The event will be followed by two open days. One for the island's "institutions" (prefect, elected representatives) and socio-professionals, the other for the general public. In the meantime, on Sunday December 8, the firefighters will bid farewell to their former fire station on the occasion of Saint Barbara's Day.
A simple ceremony will be held at around 11 a.m. in the former rescue center in Saint-Jean, following the traditional parade of fire engines between Saint-Jean and Gustavia, between 9 and 10 a.m.
As for the former fire station, the Collectivité plans to install the offices of the local police on the first floor. The first floor will be converted into housing, as will the rear of the building. A new lease of life for a site that was home to the Saint-Barthélemy fire department for almost thirty years.
