MN House of Representatives & Senate Capital Investment Committee Bonding Tour 2025

Chief Buhs presented to the House of Representatives and the Senate Capital Investment Committees regarding our need for state financial support for our new facility. He requested $9.25 million to cover 50% of the cost for the new fire and ambulance facility to help reduce the financial burden on our community.

EXCAVATING & LAND WORK BEGINS!

The initial bid review for the facility project is on target, preserving contingency funds for items like boulder mitigation. While testing revealed rocky soil, the size and volume of uncovered boulders exceeded expectations. Veit crews are efficiently distributing the material onsite to reduce costs, with some repurposed for landscaping features like a retaining wall. Strong collaboration between LHB, 5 Bugles Design/Engineering, and Kraus Anderson has ensured a smooth project launch.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: USG INTERIORS, LLC!

Thank you for your generous donation!

We’re thrilled to extend a heartfelt thank you to USG Interiors LLC for their incredible generosity and support of our new Fire, Ambulance, and Administration Building! On Friday, they delivered a whopping 17,000 square feet of ceiling tile to help bring this vital facility to life.

USG didn’t ask for recognition—they simply wanted to support a project that strengthens our community. Here at the CAFD, we are so grateful for their support.

Their donation is more than just materials—it’s a reminder of the power of community partnerships.

First Floor

Apparatus Bay & Administration

The first floor consists of the apparatus bay housing all the rigs, administration offices, a large conference room, a mothers room, a gym for staff, etc. The new facility design emphasizes efficiency, with the Cloquet Area Fire District (CAFD) prioritizing a well-balanced allocation of much-needed space. Integrated training areas throughout the building support EMS, firefighting, and rescue operations. Dedicated workout spaces promote physical health and mental wellness. Additionally, the facility is designed to welcome the community, offering prevention and risk reduction programs, as well as educational opportunities for children, adults, and seniors.

Apparatus Bay

Administration

Second Floor

Living Crew Quarters

The upper level is home to our 24-hour and paid on-call emergency response personnel. It includes a spacious kitchen where the crew can share meals, areas to decompress and recover after critical incidents, and private rooms that offer space to rest, change, and prepare for the next call. These living quarters are designed to foster both comfort and readiness, ensuring our team is supported physically and mentally throughout the year.

Crew Quarters

SEPTEMBER 10, 2025
GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY

A historic day for the

Cloquet Area Fire District!

The CAFD officially broke ground on our new Fire, EMS & Administration building. Thank you to our community and partners for your support—together, we’re building a safer future!

"Thank you all for being here today for this momentous occasion!

It is with great pride and excitement that we gather to break ground on a facility that will serve as a cornerstone of safety, service, and community for our entire ambulance and fire district.

Planning for Cloquet Area Fire District’s new Station 1 started nearly 10 years ago, when a previous chief and a significantly different district board set the path for where we find ourselves today. 1960 was the last time our region constructed a new building to house our staff and fleet of ambulances, fire and rescue vehicles, and administrative offices. We have approached this as a once-in-a-career type of undertaking, and we have invested hundreds of hours ensuring that we do this right!

Our new facility will stand for more than 50 years as the center for emergency response in our region, and we are dedicated to ensuring that we build with purpose, focusing on quality, longevity, and functionality.

This new fire, ambulance, and administration facility is more than just a building—it is a promise. A promise to the families, businesses, and individuals across our communities that their well-being is our highest priority. It will be the central hub for emergency ambulance, fire, and rescue responses across 3 cities and seven townships, bringing together dedicated professionals, advanced equipment, and a unified mission: to positively impact the health, safety, and wellness of those we serve.

We know that seconds matter in emergencies. This facility will improve response times, coordination, and readiness. It will house state-of-the-art technology, modern training spaces, and comfortable quarters for our first responders—our brave men and women who advance toward danger to aid our community when in peril.

Our response area includes Arrowhead, Brevator, Culver, Industrial, Perch Lake, Thomson, and Twin Lakes Townships, along with the cities of Brookston, Cloquet, and Scanlon, as well as the entire Fond du Lac Reservation in our region. From this location, we will respond to all of Carlton County and much of Southern St. Louis County with an advanced life support ambulance intercept that provides our entire region with the highest level of emergency medical response.

This project is also a testament to what we can achieve when we work together. It took collaboration between local governments, emergency services, planners, and community members to bring this vision to life. Your voices, your support, and your commitment have shaped this initiative, and today we begin building not just with concrete and steel, but with trust and shared purpose. The support of our district board, which represents each of the communities in our district, is paramount in bringing this project to fruition.

On behalf of all of our firefighters and EMS professionals, I would like to thank the district board for their leadership and support for this new facility.

To our firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs—this is your home base. May it be a place of strength, resilience, and camaraderie. To our residents—this is your lifeline. May it bring peace of mind and a sense of security. And to future generations—may this facility stand as a symbol of our values and our dedication to one another.

Let us celebrate this groundbreaking as the beginning of a safer, stronger, and more connected district. Thank you for being part of this journey.

Now, let’s turn the first shovels of earth and officially begin building the future!"

Building For Our Future:
The Cloquet Area Fire District Facility Project

Your Support, Our Community, A Safer Tomorrow

Each year, CAFD responds to over 3,400 emergency incidents, ranging from fires and vehicle accidents to life-threatening medical emergencies. Our dedicated team of full-time paid-on-call staff is committed to providing professional, reliable, and efficient responses to ensure the safety and well-being of our community.

Watch Cloquet Area Fire District Chief Jesse Buhs explain the urgent need for a new facility. He discusses the challenges facing our emergency response services and why modernizing operations is essential for resident safety and well-being.

Why Change is Necessary

Mental Health - Cardiac/Fitness - Cancer

The Cloquet Area Fire District’s current station has served our community faithfully for decades. However, as the district has grown and emergency response needs have evolved, the limitations of this aging facility have become increasingly apparent. Here’s why we need an upgrade to continue providing top-tier protection and service.

Increased call volume and staffing over the last 15 years - Planning for our community’s needs - Proper training spaces - Equity and accessibility - Increased apparatus physical size and quantity - Limited parking - Emergency responder health, safety, and wellness - Inadequate space for staff and equipment

Not Addressing Our Facilities Needs
Is No Longer A Choice!

If we were to stay in our current building, we would still need to bond for costs, and we would be unable to meet our long-term facility needs due to site limitations.

**Click a photo to learn more**

Living Quarters: Beyond Overdue for Improvement

The current living quarters were designed decades ago when staffing and operational demands were much smaller. They now fail to accommodate the growing needs of today’s firefighters.
Cramped sleeping areas lack privacy and proper rest environments, which are essential for on-call firefighters who may need to respond to emergencies at a moment’s notice.
The lack of adequate kitchens, dining spaces, and recreational areas negatively affects morale and overall physical well-being.

**Click a photo to learn more**

Lack of Storage: An Operational Hurdle

The station lacks sufficient space for storing essential firefighting and rescue equipment.
Fire trucks and other emergency vehicles are packed tightly into bays, leaving little room for safe maneuvering or easy access during emergencies.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) and tools are stored in makeshift areas, often exposed to wear and tear that shortens their usable lifespan.
Outdated storage solutions lead to inefficiencies, such as longer preparation times for calls and increased wear on critical equipment.

**Click a photo to learn more**

Aging Infrastructure: Outdated and Inefficient

The current fire station was built decades ago and no longer meets the standards required for modern emergency response operations.
Structural wear and tear, such as cracked walls, leaky roofs, and outdated HVAC systems, compromise the building’s functionality and safety.
The facility’s electrical and plumbing systems are not designed to handle the demands of today’s technology and equipment.
Poor insulation and energy inefficiency increase utility costs, diverting funds from critical operations.

**Click a photo to learn more**

Clutter and Overcrowding: A Station Packed Beyond Capacity

The station was originally designed for a smaller team with fewer vehicles and less specialized equipment. As needs have grown, the lack of space has become a critical issue.
Fire trucks and emergency vehicles are squeezed into undersized bays, leaving no room for future expansion or additional equipment.
Hallways and common areas are cluttered with storage overflow, creating safety hazards and inefficiencies.
Staff are forced to work around piles of equipment, which increases stress and reduces productivity.