For about 57 years, Valley Grove's volunteer firefighters worked out of a cramped building that offered just 3 feet of space between its fire engines.

Now they have a $900,000, four-bay firehouse with room to grow. Chief John Harto said the new blue and white house, located near the old building just off National Road, took about a year to construct. The department moved in last December and recently held an open house for the public.

Valley Grove, along with the Triadelphia Volunteer Fire Department, is the first responder for The Highlands shopping development in Ohio County. Harto noted his department "dual tones" with Triadelphia.

The fire department previously operated out of the village's community building that also contains a post office in the rear and council chambers.

"Everything is under one roof. It's easier for our mechanics to work and it's easier for us," Harto said.

He noted the building's cost went a little over budget after it was discovered the old railroad property mostly was fill-type dirt. Solid ground wasn't struck for 17 feet. This forced the architects, Kayafas of Wheeling, to design a stilt system to support the structure, he said.

Since the building is located across the creek from the roadway, the department originally wanted to construct a bridge to reach it. However, it was estimated a bridge would cost $200,000. To avoid having to cross the creek, instead the entrance to Firehouse Lane was created about 0.4 mile from the firehouse. It leads to the department and is adjacent to the creek. Since it is estimated it will cost about $160,000 to pave the lane, the department currently is maintaining it with gravel.

The department received a 30-year loan to build the structure that is about 127 feet long.

In addition to bays for two fire engines, a mini pumper and two ambulances, it also includes women's and men's restrooms with showers, a kitchen/meeting room, offices and a separate room to store gear.

Harto said the loan is being paid via money allocated to the department through a fire service fee, funding collected through ambulance service payments and money disbursed by the state that is collected via a 1-percent fire insurance fee.

He noted since The Highlands has grown, so has the number of calls the department answers. In years past, the department typically answered 225 fire and medical calls a year. During the past three years, the number of calls has increased to 520. With this in mind, Harto said the department is always seeking new members. Call 304-547-0347 for more information.

One of the department's newest members, Dave Bieniek, is actually an Elm Grove resident. But having firefighters and medics from outside the village isn't unusual, Harto noted. Bieniek, 20, who works as a medic for Tri-State Ambulance, said he has friends in Valley Grove.

"This is just a great community. There's great people in the community here," Bieniek said.