(City of Fayetteville photo)

FAYETTEVILLE — Officials this week will celebrate the opening of a new fire station on the south side of town.

A ceremony is scheduled at 8 a.m. Friday, Aug. 5 outside the station at 2250 S. School Ave.

Fire Station No. 9 is part of the infrastructure bond program voters approved in 2019. The first phase of the program paid for two of three new fire stations planned in Fayetteville.

The second new station is being constructed next to the new police headquarters facility on Stephen Carr Memorial Boulevard northeast of Porter Road and Deane Street. A third station is in the works at the northeast corner of North Street and Woolsey Avenue.

The new facilities will be staffed with existing personnel and fire companies.

The goal with the new stations is to reduce response times to within four minutes across the city to meet national standards, officials have said. The nonprofit National Fire Protection Association recommends that 90% of the time, the first responding truck should arrive at a fire within four minutes.

Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan and Fire Chief Brad Hardin will speak during the opening celebration event on Friday, according to a news release. Parking at the station is limited, so carpooling is encouraged.