The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service’s new temporary modular station in Waverley West was commissioned on Saturday.
A fire engine and four-person firefighter crew, and an ambulance and two-person paramedic crew, have been operating out of the station, located at 130 Eaglewood Dr., since Dec. 19. In that time, first responders headquartered at the station have responded to 151 calls for service.
Winnipeg has grown by 65,000 new residents in recent years, said Mayor Scott Gillingham, and many of those people live in Waverley West.
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Politicians, members of the WFPS and supporters gathered for a ribbon-cutting as part of the commissioning ceremony on Saturday.
“The growth is exciting but it also comes with challenges,” he said. “This innovative, temporary solution ensures that vital emergency services are delivered to this rapidly growing community.”
During his remarks, David Pankratz, MLA for Waverley and a former firefighter, noted that on Jan. 4, firefighters from the temporary station responded to reports of a fire in a single-family bungalow on Yorkvalley Way and found a vehicle on fire inside the home’s attached garage.
Because of the station’s location in Waverley West, crews were able to get to the fire in five minutes and four seconds and save the house.
“It perfectly illustrates how important this is to have here in the community,” Pankratz said.
The temporary station is made up of five modular parts that were shipped to the site and assembled in just over a week. Additional time was required for site preparation and utilities connection.
Once a permanent fire station is built in Waverley West, the WFPS foresees the modular station being disassembled and reassembled in other locations. It has a 50-year life expectancy.
The total cost for the project was $6.8 million and included the cost of the building, site preparation and assembly.
The response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive, said Janice Lukes, councillor for Waverley West.
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“This innovative, temporary solution ensures that vital emergency services are delivered to this rapidly growing community,” Mayor Scott Gillingham said of the new fire station in Waverley West.
“When I’m out and about in the community, people are thrilled — they’re just thrilled,” she said.
Christian Schmidt, fire and paramedic chief, said he was proud to officially declare the building open.
“Our crews continue to show passion and commitment to serving the residents of Winnipeg, even amid unprecedented call volumes and increasing acuity of calls for service,” he said. “And this (station) is just one small example of that commitment.”
A permanent station is set to be built near the South Winnipeg Recreation Campus in Waverley West, with construction starting in the spring. The $12.1-million station is expected to open in 2026.
aaron.epp@freepress.mb.ca
Aaron Epp
Reporter
Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. He was previously the associate editor at Canadian Mennonite. Read more about Aaron.
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