By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- Buffalo Grove’s new Fire Station 25 at 505 W. Dundee Road held its grand opening Wednesday, replacing a half-century-old station that was torn down.
- The project, designed by FGM Architects and managed by Frederick Quinn Corp., came in slightly under its $10.1 million budget.
- Cancer-reduction features include exhaust-capture hoses connected to fire truck tailpipes and individual bunk rooms with climate controls and programmable alerts designed to reduce sleep interruptions linked to cardiovascular and cancer risk.
- The station includes expanded apparatus bays, a new smaller and lighter rescue squad vehicle for paramedic and technical rescue response, and a fitness room three times the size of the previous station’s.
- Energy-saving features include high-speed overhead doors, occupancy-sensor lighting and LED door indicators.
BUFFALO GROVE, Ill. — Buffalo Grove’s Fire Station 25 held its grand opening Wednesday, with village officials highlighting design choices centered on firefighter health and safety at the new $10.1 million facility.
The station, located at 505 W. Dundee Road, replaces a half-century-old building that was torn down after years of repairs. “It was limping along,” said Project Manager Adam Slotkus. “It had multiple repairs throughout the years. At some point, 50 years catches up with you.” FGM Architects designed the station, and Frederick Quinn Corp. managed construction, which came in slightly under budget.
Village President Eric Smith said the new station equips firefighters with modern space, equipment and resources. “Today is about much more than a building,” he said. “It’s about our shared commitment to public safety, preparedness and the people who answer the call when we or our neighbors need help the most.”
Fire Chief Larry Kane and Deputy Chief Shawn Collins highlighted several health-focused upgrades, including hoses that connect to fire truck tailpipes to keep exhaust fumes out of the station, addressing concerns about firefighter cancer risk. Individual bunk rooms feature climate controls and programmable alerts intended to reduce unnecessary sleep interruptions. “Studies show that for firefighters, repeated interruptions cause stress on your heart, cause cardiovascular issues, but sleep disruption can also have an effect on cancer,” Collins said. “Sleep is incredibly important because our firefighters can be up three, four, five times a night.”
The station includes expanded apparatus bay capacity and a new rescue squad vehicle designed to be smaller, lighter and better suited for paramedic and technical rescue calls. Its fitness room is three times the size of the previous station’s. “We want our firefighters to be physically fit,” Collins said. “We joke, the best thing that an old firefighter can tell a new firefighter is how to become an old firefighter. And so I tell the firefighters is to stay in shape.”
The building also incorporates energy-efficient features, including high-speed overhead doors that reduce heat loss in winter, occupancy-sensor lighting and red-and-green LED indicators showing whether bay doors are open or closed.