Ground broken for new Barrington Fire District station

Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District broke ground in late May for a new Fire Station 39 - the district's third fire station - at 1004 S. Hough St. in an unincorporated area near the village.

Fire Station 39, at a cost of $5 million, will be the district's third fire station. Officials said it will allow the district to respond to more than 90% of all emergency calls in six minutes or less.

"Today is a very exciting and important day; one that is seven years in the making," Fire Chief Jim Kreher said.

The station is slated to be funded by reserves, though there has been some discussion about possibly financing a portion of the project - all without a tax rate increase, officials said. The station also will help reduce insurance premiums for some property owners, particularly in the eastern section of the district, officials said.

The project includes the work of Chicago-based Studio 222 Architects and Pepper Construction of Lake Zurich.