WHEELING, W.Va. – The City of Wheeling held a ceremony Wednesday morning to open the new Wheeling Fire Department Headquarters at 1700 Wood Street in East Wheeling.
The city broke ground on the facility in August 2022 but faced hurdles to complete it.
City Manager Robert Herron told the crowd that the project faced challenges in dealing with the initial contractor, PCS & Build, referring to its filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in March 2024, causing construction delays. Great Lakes Construction took over the project.
“I would like to thank Great Lakes Construction and their subcontractors for quality workmanship, professionalism, and a can-do and get it done right attitude, particularly in light of the horrible general contractor issues that unfairly affected this project,” Herron said.

Mayor Denny Magruder called the new facility “one of the finest fire headquarters in the United States” and highlighted the connection between the department and the community.
“The fact that we’re here this morning in front of this spectacular building shows the resiliency of this city,” Magruder said.
Wheeling Fire Chief Jim Blazier thanked city leaders and firefighters, past and present, for their commitment to the project.
“This new facility is not just a building—it’s a long-term investment in our community’s safety,” said Blazier. “The design and layout give our team the tools they need to train, rest, and respond quickly to emergencies. I am grateful to everyone who has kept this project going over the last several years. Special thanks to our city manager and administration, past and present city council, and retired Fire Chief Larry Helms, who played a significant role in getting this project started, as well as all our firefighters who have been patiently awaiting this day.”
The new $9 million facility is a major upgrade for the department with its 24,860-square-foot, single-story structure that replaces the department’s former headquarters in Center Wheeling. The department had been based in the lower level of the Center Wheeling Parking Garage since 1978. That structure was demolished in 2024. During construction of the new station, administrative offices were relocated to the former B.J. Sumner Jones Armory Reserve Center in Clator, and suppression crews were temporarily reassigned to other stations throughout the city.
The Wheeling Fire Department will now fully operate from the East Wheeling location, marking the beginning of a new era for fire protection and emergency response in the city.
A public open house of the fire department will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27.