Blue Rock Fire Rescue's new, state-of-the-art building will be more than a firehouse.

It will be a firehome for the volunteers who selflessly staff it.

"We decided to build something that would be good for the volunteers, that would be respectful for the volunteers, that they'd be proud of," said Blue Rock fire commissioner Duane Hagelgans. "Often when you have a newer station, you can recruit new members. And it being along (Route) 441, it's a high-visibility area down there."

The organization recently began a $10 million fundraising campaign, called Answering the Call - The Blue Rock Firehouse Project, to build a 120-by-100-foot firehouse at Herr Avenue and Route 441, the western edge of its service area.

"We're hoping to break ground in the spring of 2026, with the idea that it's usually a nine-month to one-year building (process)," said Hagelgans. "Hopefully at the latest we're opening up the station in early 2027."

The decision to construct a new building was made after careful consideration. "I think it's important that people realize that we're building this because it's needed," said Hagelgans. "We're not just saying, 'Hey, we're going to raise $10 million to build a building.' This is something that in our long-range plan we need for the township."

Blue Rock's station in Washington Boro is small and connected to the former civic center. The station in Highville is in a 100-year-old building owned by the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority.

"Between the Highville station and the Washington Boro station, they run most of the calls," Hagelgans said. "They run jointly anyway, so why not build one facility that serves our members from both locations? The idea is to consolidate the two stations in one, make it a new, nicer station. We're looking at the next 50 years. We're not looking at the next five years. What will happen in Manor Township over the next 25 or 50 years? That's why we're saying by having one station down there, knowing our call volume and knowing where we were on calls, that we're better off. If eventually we ever have to have career people, that would work. But our hope is that we can have volunteers from now until forever. There are a lot of places that still rely heavily on volunteers, and we're one of them."

The new station will house two engines, two tankers, three boats, and a special operations trailer that holds an ATV. Hagelgans said it will probably have a substation in there, so the Manor Township police will be able to have a facility on that end of the township. There will be room for an emergency operations center and space to put an ambulance.

The new firehouse will have some sleeping accommodations for volunteers, which will come in handy in situations like flooding. It will also enable the company to keep all of its equipment inside.

"The idea is to build something that's functional, that's nice," said Hagelgans. "We're not trying to build a Taj Mahal. We're being respectful, and it's going to be expensive no matter what."

The department is seeking support through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and community partnerships. "The goal is to hopefully raise the money and not have to go into debt to do it," said Hagelgans. To make a donation, go to http://www.bluerockfire.com/.

There are opportunities to have names inscribed on bricks on a pathway and for naming rights to some parts of the firehouse, like the rain garden.

Blue Rock Fire Rescue has approximately 100 volunteers and serves a 55-square-mile area that includes six miles of the Susquehanna River, while responding to more than 700 emergency calls each year.

"I just think it's very important that the township recognizes how important this is for the volunteers and for our community," Hagelgans said. "There's not a lot of land out there, but there's a lot of land area. There are farms and businesses and the Washington Boro area and the river that need protected. Our volunteers give to the community, and we're hoping the community helps support our volunteers."