Officials at the Sykesville-Freedom District Fire Department now say that the entire administrative and living area of its headquarters will have to be razed because of damage from February's roof collapse and resulting fire.

Most of the facility, including the station's social hall, was destroyed in the February 11 three alarm fire. As crews demolished the building, the two-story portion of the building facing Route 32 was left standing in hopes it could be incorporated into the rebuilding of the station.

During a recent planning meeting with the architectural firm Manns and Woodward, evidence was presented that revealed compromises in the structural integrity of the remaining part of the building. It was concluded that the remainder of the administrative and living portion of the station will need to be demolished.

Fire Department President Kevin Shiloh says, "This is not good news, and will present an additional challenge for us. The community has been fantastic since the fire, but we will need to need to rely on them for more help in order to rebuild."

Shiloh says the loss of the department's social hall is a severe blow, because of lost revenues from hall rentals and other fire department fundraisers. The department's annual carnival is scheduled for June 21-26, and Shiloh says members of the department are praying for good weather. "We need all the support we can get that week," Shiloh says. Proceeds from the carnival will benefit the building fund.

Insurance money is expected to cover a significant portion of the loss, but a final figure has not yet been determined. Department officials are examining the idea of a capital campaign to raise money for reconstruction of the station. Additionally, the department is pursuing state and federal disaster aid money, none of which is guaranteed.

The department's apparatus bay was not damaged in the February fire, nor was any of the firefighting or EMS equipment.

It is expected that reconstruction of the station will take approximately 18 months to complete from the first turn of the shovel. In the meantime, the department continues to function administratively in makeshift headquarters in trailers in the rear of the station.