For Statesboro Fire Department Chief Tim Grams, Tuesday's opening of Fire Station 3 was more than just a ribbon cutting.
"In the fire service, distance is measured in minutes, and minutes change outcomes," Grams said. "So, building a fire station is not as simple as finding a piece of land and putting up a building. It has to meet the needs of the community today, while also making sense for the community we are becoming.
"Statesboro has grown. The demand for fire service has grown. Our department has needed facilities that keep pace with that growth."
And then Grams, along with Mayor Jonathan McCollar, city council members and others, did officially cut the ribbon on the new station located on Brannen Street, behind Lowe's. Fire officials said the new station will improve coverage, reduce response times and support the department's ability to serve a growing population.
"This firehouse is part of a vision of this community to continue to grow," Mayor McCollar said. "And at the heart of it is making sure that the people that call this community home are safe. And a key part of that is our fire department."
The new fire station has bays for two standard fire engines or larger trucks. The ground floor includes a front lobby and receptionist's area, offices, a gym, an activity room, a kitchen and laundry room. The upstairs has bunks, a locker room and showers for firefighters, plus a dayroom with a microwave oven and refrigerator, two captains' rooms and a small study.
Construction on the project began in November 2025 and took 10 months to complete.
"To our firefighters: This station has been a long time coming, but its value will not be measured by how long it took to build," Grams said. "It will be measured by what happens from here forward. It will be measured by the calls answered, the people helped and the trust earned — one response at a time. That is how this station will prove its worth."So, take care of it. Take pride in it. And serve from it with professionalism and purpose."
In December 2024, the city approved the purchase of the 1.3-acre site on Brannen Street at Bernard Lane from Robbie Franklin LLC for the fire station.
Franklin, owner of Franklin Toyota and Franklin Chevrolet GMC, served on the Statesboro City Council for nine years and has been a long-time advocate for the fire department. McCollar said the city was looking for a way to honor Franklin for his support — and a new road that will be built connecting Highway 80 and Brannen Street Extension, next to Fire Station 3, is an opportunity to do just that.
"We wanted to find a way to remember and thank Mr. Franklin for his role in this project and his contributions to this community," McCollar said. "So, today we're announcing our intent to name the street adjacent to the station 'Robbie Franklin Way.'"
A surprised and humble Franklin was grateful.
"Statesboro is a great place," Franklin said. "I've been here all my life. I love it. But I want to thank these guys in these uniforms. There's no way in the world I could do what y'all do. So, thank you very much. And I'm glad I'm living in Statesboro, Georgia."
Tuesday's ceremony concluded with a "push-in" for the department's newest fire truck, marking the apparatus' official entry into service.
The truck, a 2026 Sutphen SL 75-foot aerial platform, is equipped with wireless remote-controlled nozzles, an integrated communication system and more than 140,000 lumens of scene lighting, or, as Grams put it, "enough light to make folks think the sun came up early." Also, the truck carries a 500-gallon water tank and can pump 2,000 gallons of water per minute. It was purchased with 2019 SPLOST funds.
