Enterprise City’s Lynn K. Bryson Fire Station ribbon-cutting honors namesake

Written by Joseph Witham
October 29, 2016

ENTERPRISE — The years-long efforts of dedicated volunteers and determined city officials to better support their community’s firefighters culminated Friday evening in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new fire station.

Elizabeth Bryson performs the ribbon-cutting at the newly opened Lynn K. Bryson Fire Station, Enterprise, Utah, Oct. 28, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News
Elizabeth Bryson performs the ribbon-cutting at the newly opened Lynn K. Bryson Fire Station, Enterprise, Utah, Oct. 28, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News

The ceremony was held at the newly opened Lynn K. Bryson Fire Station at 625 E. 400 South, Enterprise.

See the fire station inside and out, play the video top of this report.

Before the fire station’s construction much of the department’s fire equipment was stored outside, exposing it to weather and preventing quick access to vital firefighting tools during winter months.

The new fire station ensures that everything is ready to go at a moment’s notice. Four pull-through bays provide ample room and access for fire vehicles. The new facility also provides plenty of room for fire personnel to work and exercise, including a dedicated workout area.

Namesake honored

Named after the late Lynn K. Bryson, the facility honors its namesake’s tremendous contribution to the Enterprise Fire Department.

“We wouldn’t be here at this point were it not for the dedication and sincere efforts of Lynn Bryson,” Enterprise Mayor Lee Bracken said. “His memory will live here as it should in the fire station.”

Bryson, who died of cancer in February 2015, was a dedicated firefighter of over 50 years. When he moved to Enterprise about a decade ago, he volunteered with the Fire Department as fire captain. He recognized the department’s need for improvements and personally financed the city’s fire engines.

“His experience and what he taught us is priceless,” Fire Chief Brenden Moody said.

Volunteer efforts

The new station was a cumulative effort of people volunteering their time and money, including building materials from local vendors.

Kids play at the newly opened Lynn K. Bryson Fire Station, Enterprise, Utah, Oct. 28, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News
Kids play at the newly opened Lynn K. Bryson Fire Station, Enterprise, Utah, Oct. 28, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News

The facility’s tight budget failed to fall within the bounds of multiple bids. However, when the city contracted Precision Development to oversee the project, developer Dennis Gray made financial concessions to keep it within budget. Project supervisor John Welling was also on-site to help physically build it.

“They looked out for Enterprise as though they had a personal vested interest and not just a building contract,” Bracken said.

Also instrumental in the physical construction of the facility was Moody who completed several parts of the interior construction after the building’s outer shell was in place.

Moody is the only full-time paid employee at the department. He relies on volunteers from the community to help with the duties of firefighting.

While he appreciates the effort of his current crew, Moody said, the department could always use more help. Potential volunteers do not have to come with any specific qualifications; a lot of the training is done in-house.

“Without our volunteers, we don’t have a department,” he said.

Community value

Fire Chief Brenden Moody presents at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly opened Lynn K. Bryson Fire Station, Enterprise, Utah, Oct. 28, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News
Fire Chief Brenden Moody at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly opened Lynn K. Bryson Fire Station, Enterprise, Utah, Oct. 28, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News

So many volunteer efforts have paid off in a big way for Enterprise’s residents. The city’s homeowner insurance rating is 4 out of 10. The lower the score the better, and in this case it means lower insurance premiums, thanks largely to the well-equipped Fire Department, Bracken said.

After brief remarks by Moody and Bracken, Bracken presented the ceremonial “key to the city” to Elizabeth Bryson, wife of the late Lynn Bryson. It was the first such key Bracken had given to anyone in his decade tenure as mayor.

Elizabeth Bryson cut the red ribbon to the cheers of a large crowd of people, including city officials and fire chiefs from surrounding communities and members of the public.

Hot dogs were served and guests mingled while checking out the new facility. People were encouraged to sign their names on a signboard which will be hung inside the firehouse in commemoration of the event.

Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joseph Witham is a passionate journalist who has written, reported and edited for various publications since 2001. He is a Utah Valley University graduate with a bachelor's degree in communication. He loves Southern Utah's outdoors and hikes often in the region's red-rock canyons.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @JosephWitham@STGnews

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