Thursday Brings Big Moment for Hampton Beach

Hampton Beach officially begins a new era Thursday afternoon thanks to a special ceremony that locals have been waiting years — if not decades — to enjoy.

The Hampton Fire Department will hold a ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. at the new Hampton Beach fire station to celebrate the completion of the building's construction and honor the demolition of the longstanding former station.

The new 12,000-square-foot station, located on Brown Avenue just behind the old beach station's former spot on Ashworth Avenue, is nearly double the size of the old station and features a variety of new, greatly needed amenities.

Its construction was part of a $5.7 million project that also included an addition and renovation to Hampton's Winnacunnet Road fire station.

Thursday's ceremony is open to the public and occurs on the one-year anniversary of its groundbreaking. Hampton Fire Chief Chris Silver said the department will take the public on tours of the new facility until 6 p.m. Thursday.