Created at 9:15 p.m. on April 20, 2009

The McKinney Fire Department and city officials will hold a grand opening for McKinney Fire Station No. 7 at 10 a.m. on Sat., April 25.

Members of the McKinney City Council and McKinney Fire Chief Mark Wallace will host the ceremony at Fire Station No. 7 at 861 S. Independence Pkwy.

The latest addition to the McKinney Fire Department provides service to the rapidly growing area of southwest and west McKinney, specifically to the numerous housing developments and commercial business complexes west of Custer Road. Fire Station No. 7 is located on 2.9 acres, the 14,986 square-foot station incorporates a community room available for city and private use. Cost of construction for this facility is estimated to be $4,220,207.

“This station reflects the planning and practice of strategically placing resources, and most importantly, highly trained fire and EMS professionals in areas where service is needed in a growing community such as ours,” said Fire Chief Mark Wallace .

Division Chief Neil Howard says the station also contains sustainable, or environmentally friendly elements, such as five solar tubes throughout the building that bring natural light to areas that have no windows, like offices or corridors.

"We also incorporated things like tile flooring and wood cabinets that last longer to help reduce costs, and also to enhance the warm, homey feeling for the firefighters and EMT personnel who spend long hours there,” Howard said.