Birmingham Expands Emergency Services with New Fire and Police Operations Facility

Birmingham Acquires New Location for Fire and Police Operations

This week, the City of Birmingham took a significant step towards enhancing its emergency services by leasing a former Buffalo Rock distribution center located at 34 West Oxmoor Road. The Birmingham City Council approved the lease, which will serve as a storage facility for Birmingham Fire and Rescue as well as some operations for the police department.

Leasing Details

The agreement allows the city to use the 109,000-square-foot warehouse and office building, which comes with a rental fee of $45,000 per month. The lease is set to run for a period of six months, specifically from October 2024 through April 30, 2025. Additionally, the city has an option to purchase the facility later for $7 million.

A Growing Need for Space

City Council President Darrell O’Quinn expressed the importance of this acquisition for the city’s emergency services. He noted, “This warehouse space is sprawling and kind of ideal for storing the equipment that is utilized by our first responders, whether it’s training equipment, vehicles, what have you.” O’Quinn highlighted the city’s growing need for secure equipment storage, emphasizing that existing facilities were becoming increasingly inadequate.

Current Facility Limitations

O’Quinn explained that the city’s current equipment management facility is located in a constrained space, “sandwiched between a road and a railroad track,” which limits opportunities for expansion. The new location will alleviate these concerns and provide the necessary space for both police and fire departments to organize their resources better.

Background on the Property

The building was previously part of a complex owned by Buffalo Rock, a beverage distributor, and has recently passed into the hands of its current owner, Edward B. Lumpkin Jr., of Lumpkin Development and Metro Mini Storage. Lumpkin had acquired the property back in 2021 when Buffalo Rock moved operations to a new site nearby.

Future Uses of the Facility

Before leasing it to the city, Lumpkin used the building for general commercial storage. He considered converting it into a mini-storage facility but decided to meet the city’s needs instead. “The city came along with this need, and I can go somewhere else,” he remarked. He also noted that the property’s layout could be suitable for police or fire training exercises in the future, further enhancing its value to the community.

Community Impact

This move is expected to strengthen both the Birmingham Fire and Rescue and police departments’ operational readiness and storage capacity. Having easy access to a properly sized and secured facility represents an upgrade in the city’s ability to respond to emergencies, ensuring that first responders can efficiently manage and prepare their equipment.

As the lease period commences, residents can anticipate improvements in local emergency services, a vital aspect of community safety. With plans for eventual purchase on the table, the City of Birmingham is making strides to secure reliable locations for its fire and police operations.

Residents are encouraged to stay tuned for developments regarding how this new facility will impact their city’s safety and emergency response efforts.