History of The Evanston Fire Department – Part 79

The Fire Station Relocation Plan

Back in 1951 and 1953, Chief Henry Dorband introduced a "Fire Department Modernization Plan" that was approved by Evanston voters. This initiative led to the construction of three new fire stations, all completed by 1955. These included the rebuilt Fire Station #2, the relocated Fire Station #3, and the brand-new Fire Station #5. At the time, this brought Evanston in line with the recommendations from the National Board of Fire Underwriters, which had issued guidelines back in 1935. By September 1955, every insured building within the city limits of Evanston was within 1.5 miles of a fire station and engine company. The five stations served the city well for many years, offering average response times between 2 and 3 minutes, with no call taking longer than four minutes—except in rare cases. In 1984, under the leadership of Fire Chief Sam Hicks, the city council considered a new "Fire Station Relocation Plan." The goal was to replace the existing five stations with just three, strategically placed along the central spine of Evanston. One proposed location was at Willard D. Kamen Park on Asbury and South Boulevard in south Evanston. Another was planned for the southwest corner of Lake and Ashland, which had been designated as a future park. A third would be built on the site of the abandoned Municipal Testing Lane at Ashland and Noyes in north-central Evanston. Each of the three new stations would house multiple units: Engine 21, 24, and Ambulance 1 at Lake and Ashland; Engine 22, Truck 22, and Ambulance 2 at Asbury and South Boulevard; and Engine 23, Truck 23, and Ambulance 3 at Ashland and Noyes. Each station would have three drive-through bays, modern ventilation systems, and separate facilities for female firefighters. The Ashland and Noyes station even had potential as a regional training center. Meanwhile, the original Fire Station #1 at 909 Lake Street would become more of an auxiliary station, housing the shift commander (F-2), a driver for Squad 21, reserve apparatus, and EFD administrative offices. If the plan went through, the new station at Lake and Ashland would likely be re-designated as Fire Station #4. The main goals of the relocation plan were to reduce average response times by placing stations closer to areas with the most incidents and to ensure each station had eight firefighters or paramedics, allowing teams to respond as a unit rather than as individual companies. This approach aimed to improve coordination on the fireground, especially with the “two in / two out” rule, which required at least two firefighters to enter a burning structure at any given time. Many residents in the 5th Ward were excited about the plan, as they had long felt overlooked. Their neighborhood had been promised a station near Perkins Woods but instead received Fire Station #5 on Central Street, which was farther away. However, the plan was met with resistance in other parts of Evanston. Residents didn’t want to see their local station moved further from their homes, even if it meant better service for other areas. There were also logistical concerns. For example, the aerial ladder truck at the new station on Asbury and South Boulevard would have to navigate an underpass when responding to calls east of the CTA tracks. Additionally, some residents didn’t want to trade a park for a fire station, even though only a small portion would be used. As a result, the plan to build a new station at Asbury and South Boulevard was quickly abandoned. Instead, Fire Station #2 remained at its original location on Madison Street, with Engine Co. 22 and Truck Co. 22 staffed by six firefighters combined. Station #4, located at 1817 Washington Street, was too deteriorated to save. Rather than move Engine Co. 24 to the new Station #1, the city decided to rebuild it on the same site. Ambulance 2 was also relocated there, increasing staffing to five firefighters. With the decision to keep Stations #2 and #4 where they were, the number of engine companies north of Main Street dropped to just two, which wasn’t acceptable. So, the idea of replacing the fifth engine company with a fully-staffed ambulance and a dedicated driver for Squad 21 was scrapped. Instead, Engine 25 remained at the new Station #3 at Ashland and Noyes, sharing space with the unmanned MICU Ambulance 3 and Squad 21. A-3 and Squad 21 could be staffed from one of the companies at Station #3 if needed. Under the revised plan, Fire Station #1 at 1500 Lake Street would have five firefighters (E-21 and A-1), Fire Station #2 at 702 Madison Street would have six (E-22 and T-22), Fire Station #3 at 2210 Ashland Avenue would have nine (E-23, E-25, T-23, plus A-3 and S-21 in a fourth bay), and Fire Station #4 at 1817 Washington Street would have five (E-24 and A-2). The shift commander (F-2) would now be stationed at the new Fire Station #1 instead of the old one. This was the plan… and while it didn’t fully come to life, it marked an important step in the evolving story of the Evanston Fire Department.