Newest fire station deemed 'a milestone'

In 1940, the Lake Villa Fire Protection District's first fire station was built.

It cost $6,000 and served a population of just under 3,000 people.

On Sunday, the district's newest station opened, a $3.5 million firehouse that will serve the rapidly growing northeast quadrant of Lindenhurst.

"Today is a new milestone for the Lake Villa Fire Protection District," said Dan Venturi, Lake Villa Township Supervisor. "This is a working monument to public safety in Lindenhurst."

The Lake Villa Rescue Department began working at the station, 1911 Grass Lake Road, at 5 a.m. Sunday.

The rescue department will staff the station with two or three paramedics 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Lake Villa Fire Department will keep one truck at the station and work on-call.

"We got here today, and hopefully we'll be here for the next 100 years," Rescue Chief J.R. Halek said.

Before Sunday's opening, firefighters worked out of a building at 63 E. Grand Ave. in Lake Villa and paramedics were at 910 E. Grand Ave.

Both of those stations will continue to be manned.

Halek said having the station on Grass Lake Road should cut response times from five to six minutes to three or four minutes in Lindenhurst.

Lindenhurst village officials have pushed for a fire station since a study in the early 1980s recommended one.

However, the road leading to the new station has been long and difficult, and it included a lawsuit between the village and the fire district.

Things began to change in April 2005, when voters approved a tax increase to pay for personnel and to build two fire stations, one in Lindenhurst and a second at Route 59 and Grand Avenue in Lake Villa. The second station has not yet been built.

Lake Villa Mayor Frank Loffredo said Sunday the new station is a tribute to what can be done with a lot of hard work, dedication and commitment.

Lake County Board Chairwoman Suzi Schmidt echoed Loffredo's sentiments.

"I have three words to say: It's about time," Schmidt said. "This is a great day and what a great facility."

About 75 people attended the opening Sunday and took tours of the new station. Many in attendance lived nearby and said they were happy to have the station so close -- as long as the sirens don't keep them up all night.

"It's nice to know protection is just a stones throw away," said Heidi Mills, who lives across the street from the new station.