Sedalia officials celebrate ribbon-cutting of new East Side Fire Station

Published 6:28 pm Friday, November 6, 2026

By Chris Howell

Sedalia officials, Mayor Traves Williams, City Council members and community supporters gathered Frida, Nov. 6, at the new fire station on East Fifth Street for an official ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating a major investment in public safety infrastructure.

Fire Chief Matt Irwin spoke first, welcoming guests to the new facility and thanking the mayor, the city council past and present and city administrator Matthew Wirt for helping make the project a reality.

Although the department has experienced several setbacks and the move into the building is running a couple of weeks behind schedule, Irwin said he was pleased with the finished product.

“Today is more than the opening of a new building,” Irwin said. “It’s the beginning of a new chapter in our commitment to protecting the lives homes and businesses of the people we proudly serve.”

Irwin recognized the many people and organizations that contributed to the project including local manufacturers, contractors, members of the Sedalia Fire Department and Sedalia Parks and Recreation employees who had helped prepare the building and move items into place. He also thanked his wife, Lisa, for her support during the many nights and weekends he spent working on the project.

“As we open the doors to this new station, let us remember that the truth strength of a fire station is not measured by the size of its buildings or the amount of equipment it houses,” Irwin said. “It is measured by the people who serve, the community that supports them and the lives they help protect.”

Williams also addressed the gathering, emphasizing that the new station represents the city’s commitment to the firefighters and emergency personnel who put themselves in harm’s way to protect residents.

Williams noted the facility provides the personnel with resources and working environment necessary to perform their duties and represents a substantial investment in Sedalia’s future.

City Administrator Matthew Wirt told the Democrat the project is particularly significant for the east side of Sedalia where the previously vacant and overgrown property has been transformed into a developed campus.

“It’s a great addition to the east side,” Wirt said. “It provides better service not only to the community, but also to the east side. It’s part of the growing enhancement of ground that was once vacant and overgrown with tall grass and brush.”

Wirt pointed to the new fire station, Memory Lanes Bowling Alley and the Boys & Girls Club across the block as examples of the area’s transformation.

After the ribbon cutting, firefighters posed for photos with their new home.

“I’m super happy with the results of the facility,” Irwin said. “There are things that if we were to look back and start over again I might have changed a little bit; nothing huge, nothing life-shattering, but overall I’m extremely happy with the facility.”

The companion training facility just across the Katy Trail is already operational and Irwin said firefighters conducted their first fire one and fire two classes there Thursday, including live-fire exercises, with no issues.

The new live-fire training tower is a significant asset for Sedalia and surrounding communities, Irwin said, because previously Sedalia firefighters had to travel to locations like Holts Summit and Jefferson City to complete live-fire certification training

Irwin said the department welcomes both volunteer and career fire departments that want to use the facility or participate in training.

“If you want to come in and train with this and you want to us to teach classes, we will absolutely do it,” Irwin said. “We will light fires, we will do all the live fire safety stuff for you.”

The new station will be staffed around the clock with five personnel each day. It has six bedrooms, allowing the department to accommodate an additional firefighter when needed.

Irwin said the department anticipates two weeks to complete the move to the from the existing Central fire station on Hancock as it involves more than moving furniture and equipment. R

Radios, service computers and communications equipment also must be relocated with some radio components on backorder.

As for the fate of the old Central fire station, Irwin said that decision rests with the Sedalia city administration and city council, but he his recommendation it should be demolished.

Chris Howell can be reached at 660-530-0146.