A Evanston fire engine displaced by the temporary closing of its permanent location will be moved to a new interim site constructed at Ryan Field next week, which will significantly decrease the fire department’s response time.
Following months of negotiations between Northwestern and Evanston, the university is charging the city $5,000 for the truck’s temporary home. At its March 24 meeting, Evanston City Council unanimously voted to approve the agreement with NU.
Fire Station No. 3, located at 1105 Central Street, usually houses the engine. But the station was closed in October for renovations and and will not reopen until the end of the year.
NU originally wanted to charge the city $10,000 to use the space. Money for the temporary space is overseen by the Foreign Fire Tax board and is controlled by firefighters. In the past, the fund has been used to buy safety equipment.
During discussions between the city and the university, the fire engine was being been housed at a “hole in the wall” located at 2830 Central St., said City Manager Roger Crum.
Ald. Elizabeth Tisdahl (7th) successfully negotiated the lower price with NU at the request of David Ellis, fire board chairman.
Both NU and Seventh Ward residents will benefit from the new location of the fire engine. The ward includes a significant portion of NU, as well as Evanston Hospital, Kendall College and Orrington Elementary School.
“(Ryan Field) is a better location because it cuts down on the response times of fire engines to calls from the Seventh Ward,” Tisdahl said.
The average fire response time for a fire engine travelling to the ward from the current temporary location is six minutes, when it should be under three minutes, like the permanent site, Tisdahl said.
The new Ryan Field location is two blocks from the Fire Station No. 3 building and should significantly lower response times.
Response times have been a pressing concern in the community since a March 1 fire in Wilmette that claimed the life of one person.
Not all aldermen have been in favor of the agreement, despite the benefits for the Seventh Ward and the lowered cost, Tisdahl said. Some aldermen were displeased with the cost because the Ryan Field site will also benefit NU. But Crum said it will end up helping the city out.
“Northwestern could have (housed the truck) for free, but there are costs on their side as well,” he said. “We conducted this whole thing as a business arrangement and $5,000 is a reasonable amount.”
