NORTH FORSYTH — For the next year, some Forsyth County firefighters will be operating from neighboring Dawson County while their station is replaced.

Firefighters will be stationed at Dawson’s Fire Station 2 on Liberty Drive, near the county line, while Forsyth builds a new Station 8 at 6015 Keith Bridge Road. 

The move to Dawson likely will take place next month. The new Station 8 is slated to be completed by next spring.

“We are fixing to start construction,” said Division Chief Kevin Wallace. “In doing research on mileage and the hottest call volume for that area, it’s closer for us to house this particular engine crew at this Dawson station, which is a big station, it has a police station.”

During a work session Tuesday, the Forsyth commissioners approved the arrangement with Dawson. The vote was 3-0 in favor, with Commissioners Todd Levent and Brian Tam absent.

In December, Fire Division Chief Jason Shivers told the commission how the existing Station 8 was a relic that did not have adequate infrastructure for modern use.

“This is a volunteer-era fire station that was constructed by volunteers in 1984,” he said. “It was never intended to be operated as a permanent, full-time staffed fire station.

“But during the modern era of the career fire department, we’ve forced it into service and did our best to modernize it for our firefighters to live in.”

According to Shivers, the department has not housed firefighters in other counties during his tenure, and it would be taking several approaches to notify residents of the change.