LITHONIA, GA — Construction is underway on a new multimillion-dollar fire station in Lithonia, with DeKalb County investing $9.6 million in the project.

The new Fire Station No. 27 is being built off Pleasant Hill Road and will be funded through the county’s Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) program.

The two-story, 14,600-square-foot facility will include individual sleeping quarters for male and female firefighters, a commercial kitchen, a fitness room and community space.

County officials say the station is being designed with firefighter health, safety and wellness in mind.

The building will feature separate hot and cold zones to help prevent cross-contamination between areas where firefighters handle soiled uniforms and spaces used for sleeping and dining.

These designated areas are intended to limit firefighters’ exposure to carcinogens that may be present on uniforms worn in the field.

WSB Radio’s Ashley Simmons and Cheryl Castro contributed to this story.