CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Montgomery County officials gathered at EMS Station 20 Tuesday afternoon at a ribbon cutting for the remodeled facility.
The station has been serving Montgomery County for over four decades, and EMS leaders say the new features will make the facility more efficient.
EMS service 24/7
The station is one of 12 serving the community and was first established in 1978 at 1610 Haynes St. in Clarksville. The other 11 facilities are spread out across Montgomery County:
- Station 20 – 1610 Haynes St.
- Station 21 – 1133 Peachers Mill Rd.
- Station 22 – 321 Warfield Blvd.
- Station 23 – 2097 Ussery Rd South.
- Station 24 – 2274 Woodlawn Rd.
- Station 25 – 820 Fire Station Rd.
- Station 26 – 2633 Tiny Town Rd.
- Station 27 – 3991 Morgan Circle Rd.
- Station 28 – 2 Providence Blvd.
- Station 29 – 3846 Guthrie Hwy.
- Station 30 – 2945 International Blvd.
- Station 31 – 2915 Pace Rd.
- Admin Office – 601 Dunlop Ln.
The remodel of Station 20 took several months to complete. During that time, EMS Station 20 still operated; however, living quarters were moved to a neighboring building.
“The living portion of it was shut down. We still operated two trucks out of that station,” said Bill Webb, director/chief, noting that the furniture and equipment was moved to the old administration building next door. “They lived out of the old admin building. The ambulances were still at station 20, right next door, so we never shut the station down in regard to responding to calls, it’s just that no one occupied the building.”
The bay has been cleaned, painted, and fitted with new doors. The remodel also consisted of a new roof, windows and HVAC system for more efficient heating and cooling.
Living space upgrades
Other upgrades include a more user-friendly kitchen with a new layout and cabinets, an additional shower facility and personal bedrooms for the living quarters.
“Years ago, there were no private bedrooms. It was two beds to a cubicle, but now everyone has their own private bedroom,” Webb told Clarksville Now.
He explained that these living quarters are home to those serving the community during their 24-hour shifts. The new upgrades will help make things run more efficiently as well as provide a better home away from home for the staff.
“It sounds great working 24 hours on and off (for) 48 (hours), but I promise you some of these trucks are making 13 to 14 calls a day and it’s busy. That’s not just during the daytime hours; it goes on up into the night.”
The remodel also features a flame and plaque by the front door in memory of Paramedic Joe Snow, who died in the line of duty in 2006.
About $1.4 million was budgeted for the remodel, which is significantly higher than the $500,000 quote from two years ago. Webb attributed supply chain issues sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic to the increased cost. Any money left over will go to installing cameras at the facility.
For more information about your local EMS stations, visit the Montgomery County website.