Former Nelson Heating Site Becomes New EMS Station in Hutchinson

Reno County Commission Co-Chair Randy Parks presents Marlene Nelson with a plaque honoring Nelson Heating and Air Conditioning Inc.’s 56-year legacy, recognizing the company’s lasting impact on both its building and the Reno County community on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners.Two Reno County EMS ambulances are now located at the new Reno County EMS Station #2 at 211 W. 5th Ave, the former Nelson Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. business. 


Dave Johnston, Chief at Reno County EMS, thanked everyone who came to the new EMS Station #2's open house and ribbon cutting on Friday morning. 


New Reno County EMS Station #2, 211 W. 5th Ave., the former Nelson Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. building. 




On Friday, April 17, the doors at 211 W. 5th Avenue were opened again, not for furnace or air conditioning repairs, but for saving lives.

Reno County EMS invited the public to tour its newly completed EMS Station #2, at 211 W. Fifth Ave., a facility designed to strengthen emergency response in the heart of Hutchinson.

Visitors were able to:

• Tour the renovated station
• Meet local EMTs and paramedics
• See ambulances and equipment up close
• Learn how EMS serves Reno County

County commissioners recognized the Nelson family for their longstanding service and impact on the community. Commissioner Randy Parks presented Marlene Nelson with a plaque honoring the family’s legacy and their decades of dedication to Reno County.

Speakers noted the significance of the building’s transition - from a locally owned business to a public safety facility - emphasizing that its purpose remains rooted in serving the community.

But long before it became an EMS station, the building at 5th Avenue was something else entirely, a place rooted in family, service, and resilience.

Marlene and Rex Nelson were awarded the Reno County Small Business Award in 2021 from the Hutchinson / Reno County Chamber of Commerce. Courtesy photo.A photograph of the Nelson Heating and Air Conditiong business with Midwest Sewing and Vacuum Center in the front portion of the building. Photo courtesy Marlene Nelson.

Entrance to the Nelson Heating and Air Conditioining Inc. business at 211 W. 5th Avenue. Photo courtesy Marlene Nelson.

👨‍👩‍👧 A Family Legacy on 5th Avenue

For more than 40 years, the address was home to Nelson Heating & Air Conditioning Inc., a small, family-run business founded on January 1, 1979.

Run by Rex Nelson and his family, the company built its reputation the old-fashioned way:

• Word of mouth
• Reliable service
• Long-standing relationships with customers

Technicians rolled out of the shop each morning to homes and businesses across Reno County, fixing furnaces in the winter and air conditioners in the summer. For many residents, the Nelson name became synonymous with trust.

Sharing the same building was another familiar storefront, Midwest Sewing & Vacuum Center, which occupied the front portion facing 5th Avenue. For decades, it served quilters, hobbyists, and families, becoming a destination for sewing machines, repairs, and community connection.

Nelson Heating and Air Conditioning Inc.'s building burned on the night of January 16, 2015. Photo courtesy Marlene Nelson.

🔥 The Night That Changed Everything

That history was nearly erased in a matter of hours.

On the night of January 16, 2015, a fire broke out in the building. By the time firefighters arrived, flames had already engulfed the structure.

Explosions were reported from inside. Crews battled the blaze through the night, but the outcome was clear, the building was a loss.

After the fire, Rex and Marlene Nelson rebuilt their business at the same location, restoring and continuing to use the southern portion of the building. Photo courtesy Marlene Nelson.After the fire, Rex and Marlene Nelson rebuilt their business at the same location, restoring and continuing to use the southern portion of the building. Photo courtesy Marlene Nelson.Finished new construction of the Nelson Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. building at 211 W. 5th Avenue. Photo courtesy Marlene Nelson.Some of the brick from the original building was repurposed for this counter. Photo courtesy Marlene Nelson.

🔨 Rebuilding and Carrying On

But the story didn’t end there.

The Nelson family rebuilt.

Returning to the same location at 211 W. 5th Avenue, the business resumed operations, continuing to serve the community for several more years. It was a testament to the kind of determination often found in small, family-owned businesses.

Rex's wife Marlene remembered the awful night of the fire and how eventually, they were able to save the southern brick portion of the building. They also were able to repurpose some of the building's red brick to create a counter in the living area of the business, although it has been removed as part of the new renovations.

After more than four decades in operation, Nelson Heating & Air Conditioning closed its doors in May 2021, marking the end of an era in Hutchinson.

For a time, the building sat quiet.

The bay at the new EMS Station #2 can hold two ambulances, while the old station could only hold one. Living areas were part of the building's renovation for EMS personnel on duty. A ribbon cutting was held during the Reno County EMS Station #2's open house Friday morning at 211 W. 5th Avenue.

🚑 A New Mission: Serving in Emergencies

Now, the site has taken on a new role - one that continues its legacy of service in a different way.

Reno County has transformed the building into EMS Station No. 2, a modern facility that includes:

• Living quarters for on-duty EMS crews
• Ambulance bays for rapid response
• Operational and storage space

From this location, EMS personnel will help respond to calls each year across Reno County, bringing emergency care closer to residents when minutes matter most.