Southeast Calgary residents will now have a fire station closer to home, and the city as a whole is now home to the first specialized fire investigation bay.

Fire Chief Bruce Burrell said the opening of the Douglas Glen Fire Station Friday marked the end of seven years of planning, and the station will now serve more than 57,000 residents.

“It’s a critical piece of infrastructure to the Calgary Fire Department,” he said, adding the new station will help cut down response times in the surrounding communities.

Burrell said the station is unique as it has a separate bay in the building, which will be used to conduct fire investigations and allow investigators to bring in items like cars and appliances into a secure, clean area.

“It will give us some tools that we currently don’t have,” he said, adding some parts of investigations that are currently done in other labs will now people able to be conducted on site

“I’m only aware of one other (bay) in Canada,” said Burrell. “This one is unique.”

Area-alderman Shane Keating said as his ward continues to grow, infrastructure such as fire halls is crucial.

“It has been stated that Ward 12 alone will gain 25 per cent of the future growth of the city,” he said, adding by the time his three-year term ends next year, the area will have grown by 25,000 people.

“Fire stations like this are absolutely necessary.”