Springfield Fire Department reveals 4 new fire station projects

The City of Springfield will build two new fire stations and will rebuild two existing locations.

The city will tear down station No. 4 at Kearney and Delaware in 2020 and station No. 7 on East Sunshine in 2023. The city will rebuild each of those stations, with firefighters being displaced to other nearby stations during construction.

The city will also build two brand new stations in under-served areas. Station No. 13 in the 1900 block of West College, to go up in 2020, and Station No. 14 at Chestnut Expressway and Duke Avenue in 2026.

Fire Chief David Pennington says, "Thirteen's area is really at the center of what we call our Project Red Zone. It's an area of high call demand, areas of high fire frequency. This gives us the opportunity to put firefighters in the neighborhood to continue to reduce risk in that neighborhood through their interaction with the community. We're just really thankful we've got the opportunity to do this."

The city has known about under-served areas for years, but voter approval for a level property tax renewal in November 2017 provided the funding to build.

The fire chief and firefighters are looking forward to the new facilities to better serve areas needing more fire assistance.

"We are really excited because it gives us the opportunity to take a couple stations, particularly No. 4 and No. 7 and bring them up to date for the needs we have," said Pennington. "There's 60 years old, so the needs of 60 years ago, just in the fire apparatus alone, trying to fit modern fire apparatus in the stations. And the building's age. They've exceeded their service life and they need to be replaced."

Each of the new fire stations will look the same design-wise. The city is now taking letters of Interest from architectural firms interested in working on the station designs.

Timeline:

Feb. 1, 1:30 p.m.: Pre-submittal meeting with consultants at Springfield Mill & Lumber Classroom, 216 W. Central Street.

Feb. 15, 3 p.m.: Deadline for questions to PWRFQ@springfieldmo.gov.

Feb. 25: City to post final addendum (if required).

March 1, 3 p.m.: Deadline for submittal of Statement of Qualifications to PWRFQ@springfieldmo.gov.

April 5: Selection committee completes first round of submittal review.

April 29-May 3: Selection committee conducts interviews

May 3: Selection committee completes selection of top firm.

June 28: Professional design contract issued.