HUTTO – A crowd of community members and dignitaries turned out to help dedicate Hutto Fire Rescue – David “Red” Oman Fire Station No. 3 on Wednesday, Dec. 14. The 12,000 square foot station at 211 Limmer Loop has been serving the community since June.
“This is really special for us because we get to recognize Red Oman’s family,” said Fire Chief Scott Kerwood. “He’s one of the people who got us where we are today as a fire department, and we wanted to honor him by naming the station after him.”
Located in the Siena subdivision, the firehouse continues the expansion made possible by a 2016 sales tax increase. It will soon be followed by Station No. 4 in Star Ranch.
“Just right here along County Road 110 there are three new apartment complexes that are being built or completed. As the population grows, so grows the number of emergencies we have,” Kerwood said, explaining the need to bring more stations online quickly.
Hutto Fire Rescue – also known as Williamson County Emergency Services District No. 3 – answered 3,878 calls from Jan. 1 to Dec. 14, of this year. That’s already a 76% increase over the 2,196 total calls in 2021.
Bill Brown, WCESD No. 3 president, has long championed the opening of new stations.
“My wife, when this ESD was created in 2000, was on the first board of commissioners and it was their goal way back in 2000. So, when we opened station No. 2 (in 2018), what an accomplishment! Now we’re standing in No. 3 and we’re looking at 4, 5 and 6,” he said.
The new firehouse came in significantly under budget at $3.95 million rather than the $6 million estimated. The station currently houses firefighters but there is room for emergency medical services if the county decides there is a need.
“We built the station with the capability for Wilco to put an ambulance here. We have sleeping quarters for EMS and an office and room for their ambulance, but it will be up to them if and when they want to do that,” Kerwood said.
Because firefighters are exposed to cancer-causing smoke and fumes, the station was built with health and safety features including a decontamination chamber and a diesel exhaust venting system.
“This is brand new in the fire service,” Kerwood explained regarding the decontamination area. “I think we’re one of the first departments in central Texas to build this into the fire station. We’re getting ready to remodel Station No. 2 and Station No. 1 with this same room.”
The new firehouse also boasts a generational tie to its namesake.
“It’s so fitting that this fire station ended up on this location because this very property was once owned by my dad and his brother,” said Shawn Oman, Red Oman’s son. “He served in the volunteer fire department for 28 years. The dedication of this fire station in my dad’s name is a real honor for our family.”
