The Niles Herald Spector has an article about discussions between Niles and Morton Grove to share a fire station:
The mayors of the villages of Niles and Morton Grove are discussing the possibility of combining resources to build a shared firehouse.
Niles Mayor Andrew Przybylo says it might be cheaper for the two villages to build one new facility than to repair their existing structures. The fire departments would still operate separately. Przybylo said the discussions with Morton Grove Mayor Dan DiMaria are still in the very preliminary stages and nothing has been decided.
The Morton Grove Fire Department currently has two stations. Its headquarters are at the intersection of Lincoln and Callie avenues, with the second facility at 8954 Shermer Road. Niles has
one[two] fire station[s, one] at Dempster Street and Cumberland Avenue, [and the other at 6611 Jarvis].Przybylo said the headquarters of both fire departments are due for major repairs. Given the expenses involved, he argued, combining resources would make sense.
“If the village of Niles has to spend several million dollars to refurbish our house on Dempster, and Morton Grove has to refurbish its firehouse, maybe it would be better to build a new firehouse,” Przybylo said in an interview. “It would be better for the villages to take millions of dollars and build one firehouse that’s less expensive than two.”
He also argued because Niles and Morton Grove are close together, sending fire trucks from the same location makes sense. He noted the villages’ fire trucks already get dispatched into each other’s territory.
Among the issues to be resolved if the plan is to proceed would be choosing a site and figuring out how to fund the project. So far, Przybylo said, there hasn’t been much progress on the idea but he remains hopeful. Ryan Horne, the Morton Grove village administrator, said his community wouldn’t necessarily be averse to the idea
thanks Ron
#1 by Drew Smith on September 3, 2014 - 11:11 PM
The approximate distance between current stations with Niles Station 2 in the middle:
2 to MG5: apx. 1.5 miles
2 to NM1: apx. 1.75 miles
2 to PR36: apx. 1.25 miles
In this area there are no rail crossings that may hamper response
The main concern here should be can a joint station ensure an adequate response to the current and future call volume. Given the above info it is unlikely the physical location of the station will affect this. The effect may come if companies are reduced once a joint station is constructed.
Such ideas should be considered and the pros and cons evaluated.
I think the hardest part of building a joint station would be finding a site agreeable to both communities at an affordable price. Beside the Catholic cemetery across the street from the current station 2 there aren’t any 2-plus acre sites in that area.
#2 by Bill Post on September 3, 2014 - 9:43 PM
In regards to combining fire stations, is no matter how good it may sound the bottom line must always be public safety and the question that must asked and correctly answered is will both towns (operating out of one station location) be adequately covered according to the minimally accepted distances for proper fire protection coverage. Translated it means will both towns be within 1.5 miles of the nearest Engine company and within 2.5 miles of the nearest Truck company which are the standards that I.S.O ((Insurance Services Organization) formerly the National Board of Fire Underwriters currently go by for “built upon areas” of towns.
Even though Niles often responds with Morton Grove on automatic aide in some parts of their towns the same does not necessarily hold true for Skokie which is located just east of Morton Grove. An example is that Niles Truck 2 will automatically respond with Morton Grove Engine (Quint) 4 into the east end of Morton Grove even though most of Morton Groves Station 4’s district is actually closer to Skokie Station 18 and Truck 18 as well as Skokie Station 16 and Tower Ladder 16 however Skokie doesn’t usually normally respond with automatic aide into Morton Grove while Niles does.
Skokie really should be included in the automatic aide system with Morton Grove as Niles Truck 2 has to come from twice as far a distance when responding into the east end of Morton Grove then Skokie’s Truck companies are which happen to be located just a few blocks east of their border with Morton Grove.
#3 by grumpy grizzly on September 3, 2014 - 3:48 PM
In Massachusetts Revere E-3 and Malden E-4 share a new firehouse. Seperate entrances for both.
#4 by HWD37 on September 3, 2014 - 3:32 PM
Not a bad idea! Put the new HQ on the town border and call it a day.