A dedication ceremony and open house for the new Waterloo fire station at 510 Illinois Avenue is set for Saturday, Sept. 6.

The dedication is set to take place at 10 a.m., followed by the open house from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

The new 16,000-square-foot station on the former site of the Monroe County Nursing Home will replace the 54-year-old station rented from the city at 233 N. Main Street.

Plans call for the existing fire station to eventually become a community center.

The estimated cost of the new fire station is $2.5 million. The new building includes 14-by-14-foot doors and four drive-through truck bays — plus a fifth bay that could be modified into a drive-through in the future.

There are also offices, showers and restroom facilities for males and females, as well as a training room and exercise facilities. The training area also doubles as a temporary shelter for up to 75 displaced persons in case of a large-scale disaster.

During the dedication ceremony, information will be revealed regarding a Memorial Bell Plaza to be built outside the station