BACKGROUND
Fire Station 14 was built by the Forest River Fire Protection District (FRFPD) in 1965-66 for a volunteer fire organization to serve the then unincorporated area of Mount Prospect. In 1972, the Village annexed a large parcel of land, which now makes up most of the northeastern section of the community. At that time, Station 14 became the property of the Village and the Fire Department immediately began serving the residents with full-time firefighter/paramedics. The building was meant to be a temporary station until a replacement could be built. The following passage is from Lawrence Paritz, Fire Chief, to John J. Zimmermann, Acting Village Manager, in a memo dated May 10, 1971, regarding Station 14 and the annexation:

"The present location of the Forest River Fire Protection District was designed for a volunteer company and lacks some of the facilities required for full-time manning. The location of the station is probably adequate for the immediate area and an engine company could be located at this station and the facility utilized on a temporary basis. This location does not adapt well to the overall concept of community fire defense as the isolation of a station in a solely residential area resulting in long runs to high value properties is not good fire protection principle."

A study conducted by the Fire Department indicates that a station located on Euclid Avenue in the vicinity of Westgate Road would result in the best fire protection for the overall community; serving both the eastern and western areas of the North section of the community.

In 2000, the Fire Department included Station 14 in its first 5-Year Comprehensive Plan. Replacing Fire Station 14 was the number one issue listed in the plan and is still one of the department’s top priorities.


HOW DOES THE VILLAGE DECIDE WHERE TO LOCATE A FIRE STATION?
There are a number of issues to consider when deciding where to build a new fire station. The first is the department’s ability to provide a certain level of fire and emergency medical service to the community. The most important factor here is response time. The Fire Department’s goal is to be able to respond to 90 percent of calls in six minutes or less.

The department also has to take into consideration the location of railroad tracks. Currently, the location of all three fire stations makes it possible for the department to respond to a call anywhere in the Village without crossing railroad tracks.

WHY DO WE NEED TO REPLACE STATION 14?
Fire Station 14 has been a temporary station since 1971 and does not adequately serve the needs of the Fire Department. The building is in poor mechanical condition and is not large enough to accommodate current fire apparatus and 24/7 personnel. The current Station 14 is approximately 5,100 square feet, but a recent Facilities Study indicates that the department needs about four times that much space.

There are a number of spaces that the existing station does not have, including a training room, locker room, and fitness room. The only space for physical conditioning is on the apparatus floor, which is filled with fumes when vehicles enter and exit the station.

The width of the apparatus floor is also not adequate. Currently, personnel cannot open the doors to the ambulance and engine at the same time. This means that when a call comes in, firefighter/paramedics must take turns getting into the engine and ambulance. They also cannot fully open the passenger door on the ambulance without hitting the wall. In addition, they must be especially careful when entering and exiting though the bay doors, as the doors are only a few inches wider than fire apparatus today. The station also does not have any room for reserve apparatus.

WHAT IS THE BEST SOLUTION?
The proposed location for a replacement station is well-suited to provide emergency services to the northeastern portion of the Village. In order to provide equivalent response time and quality of care to the northwestern portion, the Village has entered into an automatic aid agreement with the Prospect Heights Fire Protection District. Prospect Heights will serve the northwestern area of the Village with one of their ambulances, in conjunction with a concurrent response by the Mount Prospect Fire Department, ensuring timely medical responses into that area. In addition, by building the station on the east side of the railroad tracks, the department will be able to respond to all parts of the Village without crossing any tracks.

The size of the proposed station also makes it difficult to find a large enough parcel in north Mount Prospect. The Park District’s property on Kensington can accommodate a new station without too much difficulty.


WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
Further information will be available once a land agreement has been finalized. In the meantime, you can also contact Chief Mike Figolah at the Fire Department for additional information at mfigolah@mountprospect.org or (847) 870-5660.