It has been a long time coming for Algoma Fire Chief Tom Ackerman, but the big reveal of the department's new fire station on Sunset Avenue in the city's industrial park is finally here.

The department will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday.

According to contractor Bayland Buildings, the 19,100-square-foot facility includes 5,800 square feet of office space, meeting rooms, and fire and emergency medical services operations areas, providing dedicated space for department personnel and daily operations.

An additional 11,300 square feet houses drive-through apparatus bays and a wash bay, providing room for emergency vehicles, equipment, and routine maintenance. The facility also features a 2,000-square-foot mezzanine for additional flexible space.

The new station is a far cry from the department's former downtown headquarters, where firefighters had to squeeze past equipment to reach the second floor and navigate crowded corridors during events and emergency calls.

Ackerman says the new facility has been worth the wait.

As for the former fire station, the Algoma Common Council met in closed session earlier this month to discuss two bids to purchase the property. The council voted 7-0 to proceed with the sale of the building to Michael and Heidi Gwiazda for $150,000.