After spending nearly a year in a mobile home, the Ironton Fire Department is seeing their new home coming closer to reality.

Chief Tom Runyon said the new fire station should be finished in 90 days.

"It's been a while, but it's came along pretty good," he said.

Construction began in December 2002 on the site of the old fire station on South Fourth and Jefferson streets. The new 10,600 square-foot structure will accommodate up to 30 firefighters, four vehicles and will also include living space, offices, a room for community services and a three-story training tower.

The city's fire fee will pay off a $1.3 million bond. The rest of the $1.9 million project will be covered by $700,000 in Community Development Block Grants and Revolving Loan Funds.

During the demolition of the old fire station and the subsequent construction of the new one, members of the department have made a mobile home at the city garage their temporary home. The chief, inspector and officers have been using one desk, and the home also includes the living space for firefighters, Runyon said.

"We knew we had to cope with it to get to where we were going," he said.

When the building is complete, Runyon said he hopes to have an open house for the public when the department is settled in.

"It's been a long time getting this, but I think the public will like what they see," he said. "We hope to get the building open and ready for public service."