Work underway on North Paris fire station

A 150-year-old oak tree on the site of the future North Paris Fire Hall will remain in place and has been protected during construction. County council approved a new tree protection and enhancement policy in 2025, which was applied to the site following concerns raised by residents. Coun. Steve Howes shared that update on social media last month.

Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor

Construction is now underway on the County of Brant’s new North Paris Fire Station, with early-stage work set to continue through the winter and a projected completion date of April 30, 2027.

According to a recent staff update, construction officially began in late January with the next 45 days of work scheduled to focus on site preparation and excavation, marking the first major phase of construction.

This early work includes site prep and setup, excavation and related groundwork, allowing the project to advance to subsequent construction phases later in the year. Bi-weekly project meetings are being held to review progress, address issues as they arise and ensure the work remains aligned with the approved schedule.

Based on the contractor’s current timeline, the North Paris Fire Station is expected to reach substantial completion by the end of April 2027. County staff say they will continue to monitor progress and report back to council should there be any significant changes to timelines or key milestones.

The new fire station is being built to serve the growing north end of Paris and surrounding areas, responding to increased call volumes and development pressures. In September 2025, council awarded the construction contract to Lanca Contracting Ltd. for $5.99 million before HST, following a competitive tender process that attracted eight compliant bids.

The 11,406-square-foot facility will include six apparatus bays, training and administrative space, separate storage areas for firefighter gear and equipment, and design features intended to support future staffing growth. The station has been designed to meet net-zero and carbon-zero operational standards, with a fully electric system and rooftop solar generation.

In addition to construction planning, county staff are also advancing work on equipment and staffing. A draft request for proposals is being prepared to procure the apparatus required for the new station, including a tanker, pumper and light rescue vehicle. Staffing preparations are also underway. In recent recruitment cycles, additional firefighters have been hired for Station 1 in Paris to support training and operational readiness ahead of the new station opening. Once the North Paris Fire Station becomes operational, personnel will be assigned across responding stations to ensure balanced and effective coverage.

County staff are expected to provide council with project updates on a bi-monthly basis, including progress photos and milestone reporting, as construction continues.