City begins fire station construction

By Jamie Teibel
Summer Editor

Deputy Fire Chief Richard Doyle said the construction of three fire stations is soon to be put into action.

The No. 3 and No. 6 stations will bring more coverage to their areas and No. 9 will supply state-of-the-art training for its firefighters. Another reason for the new stations is that some are too close to each other because of the new railroad.

Fire station No. 9 will be built at the watertower near Subaru Isuzu Automotive on 475E and 200S. It will contain a new training center with state-of-the-art training in fire safety and rescue. No. 9 will also be able to provide more medical coverage for the factory.

No. 3, currently located on the corner of Main and South streets, was built in 1921. The future of the current station is undecided, but Deputy Chief Doyle said it would be maintained because of its historic value.

The new No. 3 will be located at 18th and South streets in Lafayette. The previous No. 3 was the first modernized fire station. It hasn’t been updated; therefore it is too small and old.

No. 6 is currently located on Elmwood and Greenbush, but will be relocated to the corner of US 52 and SR 26. The relocation puts No. 6 closer to I-65 and 400N and east, which will give them more coverage of those areas. It will also bring the station closer to the people it serves in Fairfield Township.

"It’s gonna be different," said lieutenant Rick Basham of No. 6, "It’ll be easier to get in and out," referring to the location of the station’s driveway which leads directly onto Main Street.

Basham said station No. 6 was put into service in 1954 and is the smallest. He said it would be nicer to get into a larger facility because the employees usually spend twenty-four hours a day there.

The completion of fire stations No. 9, No.3 and No.6 is expected later this year or early 2002.

Complex to include restaurants, stores

City begins fire station construction

City updates transportation plan, proposes area changes

Construction to begin next month for apartments, commercial area

CITY DESK PHONE:
(765) 743-1111 ext. 250

City editor:
Heather Mangold

To send a letter to the editor, please email opinions@purdueexponent.org

Purdue Exponent 2001