DAYTON – Members of Columbia County Fire District 3 are getting excited about the new fire station on Patit Road, with its 13,500 square feet and 16 truck bays, brand new living quarters for five firefighters, and enough offices for all the command staff.

General contractor Joe Christensen, with G2 Construction out of Tri-Cities, is planning to have the $850,000 remodel of the old Columbia Rural Electric Association building complete by the end of this month. New Assistant Fire Chief Jeromy Phinney says the district plans to start moving equipment and supplies from the current station at...