The city of Ottawa is taking its first step to getting a third fire station. The city council approved a station location analysis study with the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association last night. Commissioner Tom Ganiere, who is now in charge of Public Health and Safety, says the city has been preparing for the study during the last city council term.
He says a previous study said the best place for a new fire station would be on the north side near Interstate 80.
He says the association will look through every part of the city to see where the best place is. He wants the new station to be north of the train tracks which slow down fire department response times.
Ottawa Fire Cheif Brian Bressner presented information to the council last year about repsonse times. It can take up to 11 mintues in some places depending on where the call is coming from. Cong. Lauren Underwood announced last month that she is asking for $1.5 million to build the third fire station.