SACO — The mood on Saturday morning was celebratory at the grand opening of Saco’s new Central Fire Station on North Street. The sun was shining, the weather was warm and an estimated 800 residents, local dignitaries and fire chiefs from nearby communities turned out to support Saco’s firefighters and take a peek at their new home.

After fire trucks proceeded from the old station on Thornton Avenue to the new station, there was a raising of the colors, a performance by the Thornton Academy chorus and a benediction.

Then the ceremonial uncoupling of the hoses that were placed in front of each of the bays took place before the doors were opened and the people poured in.

Although spirits were high on Saturday, Fire Chief John Duross reminded people it was a long road to get to this day.

It was 34 years ago, he said, when then-Fire Chief Kevin Pendleton first identified the need for a new station.

The Thornton Avenue station, now closed, is located at a site of a fire station dating back to 1871. The building itself was constructed in 1938. It had numerous inadequacies and deficiencies, chief of which was that the building was designed to house apparatus built in the 1930s and is too small for the fire apparatus of the 21st century.

A special election was held on Feb. 9, 2010 when Saco voters approved a $5.9 million bond for the new station. The groundbreaking for the new building was in June, and 10 months later the new building was complete.

“It was worth the wait,” said Duross.

“For years they (firefighters) waited patiently without complaint,” said Saco Mayor Roland Michaud. The new station “for the people who daily put their lives in harm’s way ”¦ was long overdue.”

But when the city finally did act, the time was right, said Michaud. Interest rates were low, construction costs reasonable and the project came in on time and under budget.

Among the dignitaries taking part in Saturday’s ceremony were city and state representatives who shared congratulatory messages from Gov. Paul LePage, read by State Fire Marshall John Dean; and from Maine’s U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, read by their representatives.

There were also gifts: A legislative sentiment, presented by Sen. Barry Hobbins, D-Saco, and state Reps. Linda Valentino and Don Pilon, D-Saco; a certification of appreciation from the  U.S. Fire Administration presented by Pilon; gifts of flags; and a $22,000 rebate check from Efficiency Maine presented by the Executive Director Michael Stoddard of the state energy conservation agency.

The rebate was for a number of energy efficiencies that were included in the building, the most notable of which is the geothermal heating system that will heat and cool the building using little to no fossil fuel.

“This is a phenomenal building. We’ve come out of the dark ages,” said Firefighter Lt. Steven Merrill.

With the new building, he said, “I think the morale of the force has changed. ”¦ We thank the citizens of Saco.”

The highlight of the ceremony for many was the enthusiastic performance by the second grade students from Young School, which is located just across the street from the new station. The children’s song, set to the tune of 1980s hit song “Celebration” by Kool & the Gang, captured the sentiments of many with their succinct lyrics: “It’s fire station time, come on! It’s a fire station.”

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.