The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) opened a new aircraft rescue and firefighting station at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Monday.

According to MAC, the new $42.3 million, 25,000-square-foot fire station is the first step in consolidating public safety and operations into one facility. The next step will be the opening of the Public Safety and Operations Center, construction of which began this summer. The center will be attached to the fire station.

Fire Station 2 is about 50 percent larger than the previous station, built in 1965, which it replaces.

The new station is located at the north end of the airfield next to the MSP air traffic control tower. Fire Station 1 is located at the south end of the airfield.

According to MAC, MSP firefighters respond to approximately 3,200 calls per year – including medical cases, building and aircraft emergencies, and hazardous materials calls. Since firefighters typically spend 121 nights per year at the airport, MAC says the new station features individual dormitories, locker rooms, a larger kitchen, and interactive meeting rooms.

The fire department covers the 3,400-acre MSP property as a whole and has mutual aid agreements with surrounding communities in the event of an emergency.