Mathews Volunteer Fire Department is moving forward with plans to replace Cobbs Creek Station 4.

Department president Calvin Morgan said the existing station is aging and in need of repairs. In addition, he said, it’s "just in a bad location," on a side road where a curve in Route 198 limits visibility.

While plans for the replacement station are not yet final, he said he expects the no-frills one-story structure to have a dayroom, up to three bays for equipment, and two bathrooms to comply with building code requirements. He said it will more than likely be a steel building.

Site work for the station was nearing completion last Friday. Building committee chairman Ron Dixon said the cost so far has been $135,000, which includes purchase of the land, engineering, a commercial entrance, grading of the driveway and parking area, and some utilities.

Everything has been paid for with existing resources, said Dixon, and the project is debt-free for now. However, donations wil...