By Kevin Aldridge
The Cincinnati Enquirer

GREEN TOWNSHIP - The wrecking ball came Monday for a 37-year-old fire station here.

The station at West Fork Road and Audro Drive was razed to make way for a new, $1.5 million one.

Green Township Fire Lt. Michael Nie said the old station, built in 1967, could no longer meet the demands of a 24-hour-a-day operation.

The station, which had been in service since the days of the Mack Volunteer Fire Department, could accommodate only three firefighters and had limited storage, kitchen and sleeping space, Nie said.

The new station will be able to accommodate up to seven firefighters.

Fire officials said the township will seek bids for construction of the new fire station starting April 30.

They hope to have the project completed by winter.

"It is sort of the end of an era," Nie said. "But you can't keep looking to the past. You've got to be looking to the future. If we ever hope to increase our coverage area, we need the facilities to do that."

The Green Township Fire Department operates four stations with about 100 full- and part-time personnel.

Over the past few years, the community of 56,000 residents has seen some of the most rapid growth in Hamilton County.

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E-mail kaldridge@enquirer.com