New fire stations under way in West Chicago

West Chicago residents are one step closer to having more help with local emergencies.

This month, the West Chicago Fire Protection District broke ground on two new stations that are slated to be completed by early 2010. Voters approved a tax increase in April 2007 to fund and staff the stations, which will cost about $4 million each.

The new Station 2, at 1651 Atlantic Drive on the city's north side, will expand upon services offered by the fire engine and ambulance now constantly stationed at DuPage Airport.

Station 3, to be located at 1080 Commerce Drive, will give firefighters better access to the south side of the city.

Fire Chief Ron Ackerman said the station's location will let rescue workers access West Chicago's south side without crossing the EJ&E and Union Pacific Railroad tracks. Both tracks intersect near Wood and Washington streets and potentially could delay emergency vehicles if trains cross simultaneously.

"The stations will be more centrally located so we can serve people faster," Ackerman said.

While the district waits for the two new stations to be built, firefighters are working from temporary quarters on the city's south side. In July, the district bought a home at 506 Lyman St., where three firefighter/paramedics are constantly stationed. Just blocks from the building is a maintenance facility owned by the district. A fire engine equipped with paramedic supplies is kept there.

Ackerman said the temporary station wasn't supposed to be in use until this month, but the September flooding forced the department to speed things up.

"In order to get to that side of the city from Station 1 or 2, we would have to go over the railroad tracks or under the underpass by Roosevelt Road," Ackerman said. "But during the storms, the underpass flooded and we had no way to get to that side of the town if there was a train. At that moment, we jetted everything ahead and, for the first time in history, we had three fully manned stations."

In addition to the new stations, the voters gave the district permission to hire 12 new firefighters. Ackerman said six already have joined the district. Three more will be added in January. The final hires will be added closer to the opening of the new stations. In addition, Ackerman said the district plans to sell the house on Lyman Street after Station 3 is in operation.

"We told the public about the need for all of this," Ackerman said. "Now we want them to know we are full steam ahead and have accomplished a lot since before and after we started receiving the referendum funds in June."