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Lake Zurich Fire Chief: Fewer stations means increased response time
Lake Zurich Fire Rescue Station No. 1, at 321 S. Buesching Road, may be moved and consolidated with Fire Station No. 4 in Deer Park, which would also be moved, under a proposed plan to increase efficiency.| Provided photo
Updated: January 14, 2013 7:08AM
LAKE ZURICH — The Lake Zurich Fire Rescue Department has proposed preliminary plans to consolidate the district’s four fire stations into three and build a new site, preferably on Rand Road, that would serve as Village Hall.
“We believe that relocating a station out to the Route 12 corridor will give us better response times because you can get in and out quicker,” said Dave Wheelock, Fire Chief for the Village of Lake Zurich, who proposed the plan.
The plan recommends the consolidation of Fire Station No. 4 at 21970 Field Parkway in Deer Park and Fire Station No. 1 at 321 S. Buesching Road in Lake Zurich.
“We feel we can cover the area with three fire stations, so we’re trying to better place the station,” said Wheelock at a Committee of the Whole meeting at Fire Station No. 3 on Mohawk Trail last Wednesday. Wheelock said the plan came after studies of calls and responses from all stations in the district.
“It will change dynamics, but overall it will be a better response time,” said Wheelock.
Lake Zurich Village Manager Jason Slowinski said he agreed with the plan because of the aging structures of both City Hall and the fire stations.
“We have to invest in maintenance items to keep the building going,” said Slowinski, explaining that it would be a burden to continue repairing the buildings.
Village Trustee Jonathan Sprawka said he disagreed with the plan because he thinks it would cost too much.
“The residents are going to pay for it,” he said at last Wednesday’s meeting.
Wheelock said because of the preliminary stage of the plan, overall cost is yet to be determined.
“You may be surprised at the potential savings here,” said Wheelock. “I do believe this is a unique opportunity for the department and the Village.”
Wheelock also said the plan does not include any personnel cuts for the department or the district.
The 26,000-sqaure foot structure would take approximately 18-24 months to build and would ideally be on Rand Road, roughly between S. Cuba Road and Deerpath Road, Wheelock said.
Village President Suzanne Branding said she thinks the consolidation is an idea that is worth investigating.
“Lets move ahead and get further information on how it would affect our residents,” Branding said. “We need to look at some creative ways to serve our community better.”
Lake Zurich Fire Rescue serves the Village of Lake Zurich as well as the Lake Zurich Rural Fire Protection District. The fire district covers a 25-square mile area, which includes areas of Kildeer, Hawthorne Woods, Deer Park, North Barrington and unincorporated parts of Ela, Cuba and Fremont townships.
