Officials from the Fame Fire and Rescue Company, one of three fire companies that make up the West Chester Fire Department, officially broke ground last week on a two-story, 8,000-square-foot addition to its station on East Rosedale Avenue.

Fame’s current building was constructed in 1973 and can no longer accommodate the emergency-response equipment needed for the rescue operations that fire company provides. (Fame’s volunteers are also vital members of the Chester County Rescue Task Force.)

“The Fame Fire Company has been a part of the Greater West Chester community for 181 years,” said Don Powers, Fame’s president and the co-chair of the capital campaign to raise funds for the addition. “(We) answered over 500 service calls last year, and countless hours are spent on drill nights and weekends to make sure we provide the best possible emergency service to our community.”

Years ago, Fame launched its capital campaign – entitled “Willing Hearts” and inspired by its motto, “With willing hearts, we hasten to assist” – to raise more than $2.5 million to renovate and add onto its building.

“It’s been a long journey for Fame,” said Bill Ronayne, Fame’s vice president and the campaign’s co-chair. “We’ve been working on this project over 10 years. Today happily marks the beginning of a new chapter in our rich history here in West Chester.”

During the last four years, Fame received more than 1,000 donations, pledges, and in-kind and cash gifts totaling $1.6 million.

“There have been so many people with ‘willing hearts’ that have come to our side during the campaign,” said Ronayne, “and succeeded in helping us reach this important day in the history of Fame Fire Company.”

The groundbreaking ceremony officially marked the launch of Phase II of the capital campaign, which aims to raise the additional $600,000 that’s necessary to complete the project.

Click here to donate.

[uam_ad id=”80503″]

.

[uam_ad id=”80502″]