PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER Construction on the new Traer Fire building located on Second Street directly adjacent to the main station is pictured on Wednesday, Dec. 7. The new building’s primary function will be to house the department’s trucks including the aerial truck which does not fit in the existing building.

TRAER — Construction began recently on Traer Fire’s new building in the empty lot located directly east of the main station at 648 Second Street.

During the Dec. 5 Traer City Council meeting, city council member and deputy fire chief Matt Rausch gave a very brief update on the building’s progress, telling his fellow members thus far the poles had been put in place on the $297k project.

The new 50’x 88′, six bay building is being constructed next to the fire station in order to house the department’s biggest trucks including its new aerial truck, while the main building will continue to be used for training, storage, meetings, kitchen and bathroom facilities, etc.

This past summer, the city earmarked roughly $240,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds toward the project with the fire department further dedicating both city and rural set-aside funds plus some fundraising to the project’s finances.

The hope is that the building will be done before winter sets in completely.