Apex Town Council members are set to talk about the future of the historic Fire Station 1 Tuesday after more than a thousand people signed a petition to keep the station operational.
Some community members expressed concern about the town plan to move operations from Station 1 to Station 3, about a mile away. The change.org petition to preserve the firehouse has gained about 1,300 signatures over the past three weeks.
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Apex leaders have been working towards the move since 2019, when a report showed options for renovations to Station 1. At that time, the council started working on a plan not to update but to move Station 1 while maintaining a fire presence in downtown.
On Tuesday, the town council will consider a budget amendment to fund a study for the Station 1 site. This includes a market analysis of the building's location and tests business ideas for the success of incoming ventures for the building.
The station has served the downtown Apex community for more than 70 years. It opened in the 1950s under the Apex Volunteer Fire Department and merged with the town's fire department about 20 years ago.
Roy Moore was a part of the Apex Volunteer Fire Department and led the push to preserve Station 1. He wants to see the station remain active.
"It goes back to the peak of good living here in Apex," Moore said. "It's just sad that we want to ruin the small town character. Every small town has a fire station, a police station, and lots of restaurants and retail areas, and you're taking that away."
Victorian Simmons, spokesperson for Apex Fire and Police departments, told WRAL News that the cost of renovation was among the deciding factors in the decision to no longer use the downtown location for fire operations.
The town has also released renderings of what Station 1 would look like if it would become a fire prevention area and museum instead of an active fire station.
"We want to work alongside our community to determine how that history can remain meaningfully represented at the site while also meeting the department’s future operational needs," the town said in a statement.
Town leaders have pointed out that Station 1 and Station 3 are less than one mile apart. They are in overlapping response areas and 'essentially operate as one station from two buildings.'
For Moore and others in the community, Station 1 being active is essential to downtown.
"I really think my ask are for this to be an operating firehouse, for there to be a museum of some sort...and for it to be fire prevention area," he said.
The town will not be voting on the future of Station 1 Tuesday night.
"The feasibility study item involves council considering funding for the study; it is not a vote on the final use of Station 1. The chief’s discussion is separate. His goal is to meet residents in this conversation, answer questions about the transition and listen to concerns," the town of Apex said in a statement.
The Apex Town Council meeting starts at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Timeline of the town's discussion on the future of Station 1:
- September 2019: Town Council voted against renovations for Station 1 but wanted to keep a fire presence in downtown.
- December 2019: Town Council passed the downtown master plan, which included plans to 'reimagine' Station 1 as a new development.
- February 2024: Town Council proposed plans to renovate Station 3, move Station 1 operations to Station 3 and use Station 1 for educational or museum purposes.
- May 2025: Town Council reviewed fire location study, supporting a Station 3 renovation and moving Station 1 operations to Station 3.
- July 2025: Town Council approved funding for renovations and addition designs for Station 3.
- July 2026: Town Council approved funding for renovations and addition construction on Station 3.
- July 2026: Residents started a petition for Station 1 to stay operational.
- Tuesday, August 11, 2026: The town council is set to discuss an amendment to the budget for funds for a market and feasibility study on Station 1; and the Apex fire chief will speak about the station.