Rock Hill's newest firehouse is officially up and running, and the public will have the chance to tour the station and meet the firefighters at an open house Saturday.

Fire Station No. 6 on Airport Road was completed last year but sat empty due to the economic recession, Fire Chief Mike Blackmon said. Hiring for the station was put off until the current budget year.

Firefighter Eric Holmes said it was good the station had grown with the city, and fellow firefighter Juan Buchanan noted quicker response times.

Response times were a key factor in the decision to build the station.

Blackmon said the department has always met the Insurance Service Office's response time guidelines of less than five minutes.

"We do meet that," he said. "Moving out here has really helped us."

Getting out to a fire within that five-minute period is particularly important because, depending on the severity, a fire that has been going for five to 10 minutes is "free-burning," making it more destructive.

On the medical side, Blackmon said, someone who is unconscious due to a loss of oxygen to the brain for more than two minutes can suffer long-lasting consequences.

The station has much of the same amenities as the city's other five stations, including a radio/report room, weight room and sleeping quarters, but it is unique in that the fire prevention office works strictly from there.

The station also has four bays, whereas most of the other stations have two or three. This is because the facility was built with the ability to house two firefighting companies at a time.

"We're a neighbor," Blackmon said. "We're one of them, and we want to be a good neighbor.

"We work for them, and this is their fire station."

Want to go?

What: Open house at Rock Hill Fire Station No. 6, the city's newest firehouse

When: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday,

To do: The family-friendly event will include food, games and guided tours of the station. People also can meet the firefighters who serve their area.