Elk Grove firefighters set up shop at shuttered water park

Some Elk Grove Village Fire Department personnel and essential equipment moved into temporary quarters Monday at the Rainbow Falls Waterpark & Community Center as renovations are about to begin at Fire Station 7.

Under an arrangement between the village and park district, Squad 7 and Ambulance 7 will respond from the Rainbow Falls facility while a $2 million renovation project takes place at the main firehouse, 101 Biesterfield Road.

Park district officials chose not to open the water park this summer because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

All other personnel and equipment will be temporarily relocated to Elk Grove's two other fire stations. The Rainbow Falls location will not be open to the public, village officials said.

There should be no noticeable impact to fire and emergency response due to the temporary arrangement, they added.

Construction is expected to begin in August at the 1980s-era fire station on Biesterfield. Upgrades will include a new roof above the living quarters, replacement of the heating and cooling system, replacement of the apparatus floor for improved drainage, fresh paint and new LED light bulbs.

The project is scheduled to be complete in early November.