The Springfield Fire Department hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the rebuilt Fire Station 4 on Thursday, Oct. 6 at 2423 N. Delaware. Fire Station 4 is located on the boundary of the Doling and Robberson neighborhoods. The old station was demolished in March 2021 to make way for the rebuilt station. The old station, which was built in 1968, had long exceeded its usefulness.
The new station has been operational since Sept. 5.
Funding for the new station, which cost just under $3 million, was provided by the voter-approved Level Property Tax.
“We are keeping our promise to Springfield voters,” said Fire Chief David Pennington.
The tax, which generates about $8.5 million per year, funded or is funding:
- Improvements to Fire Station 10 at 2245 E. Galloway St., which was built in 1979. The newly renovated station became operational earlier this year. The $644,000 renovation included improvements to the station’s kitchen, dining and living room spaces, physical fitness areas and sleeping quarters. The laundry area was updated to allow for the proper inspection, cleaning, drying and storage of turnout gear (firefighter protective clothing).
- the replacement of Fire Station 7, which was built in 1958 at 2129 E. Sunshine. The Landmarks Board approved the demolition of the old station at its Oct. 5 meeting. The estimated $3 million rebuilt station will be operational in 2023.
- the brand-new estimated $3 million Fire Station 13 in the 1900 block of West College in the West Central neighborhood. Currently under construction, Fire Station 13 will be operational by early 2023.
- the brand-new Fire Station 14 at the northeast corner of West Chestnut Expressway and North Duke Avenue. Construction for station 14 is planned as part of a 2026 bond package made possible by the Level Property Tax.
“We were ecstatic to be able to replace these old stations with modern facilities and equipment, and equally excited to build two new stations in underserved areas of Springfield, both of which have high fire risk,” Pennington said. “These new stations will reduce the amount of travel time for our fire crews to reach emergencies in these areas.”