Fire station set for Lily Lake

The Elburn and Countryside Fire Protection District is opening a third outpost, in Lily Lake, by renting space in a commercial building.

The district plans to station a fire engine at 5N276 Wooley Road starting Wednesday, according to Chief Kelly Callaghan.

The engine will be equipped with advanced lifesaving medical equipment, including heart defibrillators and heart monitors, and medications that paramedics can administer, Callaghan said.

"We've been looking for eight to 10 years" for a place in Lily Lake, Callaghan said. Land it was interested in buying either cost too much, or was not available, he said. The district also thought about siting a station on the grounds of the Lily Lake Village Hall, according to minutes of a 2009 fire trustees' meeting.

Opening a station in Lily Lake helps the district meet its goal of having a fire station within five miles of all properties it covers, Callaghan said.

ECFPD's other two stations are Station 1 on North Street in downtown Elburn and Station 2 on Hughes Road near the Mill Creek subdivision. It is building a new Station 1 on Route 38 just east of Route 47 in Elburn.

Callaghan said the Lily Lake station has good access to several subdivisions, as well as to the intersection of Routes 64 and 47. "This gets us close to a lot," he said.

The engine and staff will be reassigned from the other stations. It will be staffed round-the-clock.

The lease is renewable for up to five years.

Callaghan said the district still wants to build a permanent station in Lily Lake.

Plans could be affected by the outcome of a November referendum on whether a large portion of the district, lying generally north of Route 38 and east of Route 47, can disconnect from the district. Petitioners want to join the Fox River and Countryside Fire/Rescue District.