Work begins on giving Alcester a 24-hour fire station
The building stage in the upgrade of Alcester fire station in Warwickshire is to begin on Monday.
It is part of Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service's improvement plan and will change the use of the station.
The work will be completed by 2013, when the station will be staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The station is currently staffed by firefighters on the retained duty system, which means it has no permanent crew.
The updates to the building will provide facilities for a whole-time crew, training facilities, enhanced equipment and IT services.
Currently, the station is only occupied when firefighters are called to an incident, are training or are working on youth projects.
Portfolio holder for community protection, Councillor Richard Hobbs said: "I am really pleased to see that work is under way for the upgrade of Alcester fire station.
"The upgrade will not only improve the services we provide within the local community, but it will also improve the fire cover in the south of the county.
"Whilst the look of the building will remain the same, the way in which it is used will be changed dramatically."
It is hoped that the finished station will also become a "community hub" with projects and activities.