Benson Fire Department Holds Open House

(L to R) Assistant Chief Troy Byrd, Chief Anthony Byrd, and Benson Mayor Jerry McLamb hold a ceremonial check for $1,405,000, funds the department received from the USDA Rural Development to pay for a new Benson Fire Station. The public toured the facility during an open house held Sunday afternoon. Photo by Carter Rabil

The Benson Fire Department held an open house for their new six-bay fire station Sunday afternoon. Town folks had the opportunity to drop by the new station and see the new facility, paid for with a $1.3 million low interest loan and a $100,000 grant from the USDA Rural Development. Area Director Garland Burnette and Congressman Bob Etheridge presented a ceremonial check for $1.4 million to Benson Mayor Jerry McLamb during the open house. Mayor McLamb said, “I would like to officially and personally thank Rural Development for making it possible for us to have a beautiful new building for a fine, dedicated group of personnel such as the Benson Fire Department.” Several Johnston County officials were on hand including Commissioners Cookie Pope, DeVan Barbour, and Tony Braswell. The new fire station will house all the departments’ apparatus including a decontamination area. Parts of the adjoining old Benson Middle School were also renovated for classroom, training, administrative, and overnight areas for emergency personnel. The Benson Fire Department serves 7,000 residents in the Town of Benson and the Banner Rural Fire District.