The city is charging ahead on plans for a new fire hall in London’s southeast.
The city began work with consultants in the fall with the goal to have the new fire hall, near Hamilton Road and Commissioners Road, built and operating in 2025, a city spokesperson said.
Plans for a 15th London fire station began in 2018.
At the time, the city considered a 0.68-hectare parcel of land it owned in an industrial park near Hamilton and Old Victoria roads for the new station.
Pandemic-related issues, including sourcing contractors and supplies, and other delays slowed the process.
The southeast of the city has had significant residential development in recent years, particularly west of the Hamilton and Commissioners intersection, and rapid expansion of industrial sites around Veterans Memorial Parkway and the Hwy. 401.
Ward 14 Coun. Steve Hillier said the new station will include special equipment to fight fires in industrial areas.
A request for qualifications document issued by the city in September said the station will, at minimum, be a one-storey building with two garage bays and include dormitory space for up to five firefighters and a captain, a fitness room, common areas, kitchen and other amenities.
The nearest fire halls to the southeast corner of the city are Station 10, on Trafalgar Street near Veterans Memorial Parkway, and Station 5 on Deveron Crescent in Pond Mills.
Station 10 is about six kilometres, or an eight-minute drive, from the Hamilton and Commissioners intersection. Station 5 is about five km, or a five-minute drive, away.
Station 14 was built in 2011 near Hyde Park and Fanshawe Park roads in the city’s northwest.
Between 2016 and 2021, the department’s annual number of service calls rose by 22 per cent.
In 2021, the department responded to 11,165 calls, its 2022 master plan reported.
The fire department asked city council’s community and protective services committee for about $7.25 million to buy a new fire engine and two aerial platform vehicles as unexpected breakdowns put pressure on the department’s operating and spare fleet.
Station15 will require an aerial platform vehicle when it’s built and operating, according to the staff report.
Source: Londoner (Print Edition)·Jennifer Bieman [email protected]
