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Urbana opens new fire station, citing $1 million state capital grant and bond financing
Summary
City and fire department officials opened a new Urbana fire station designed to improve response times and firefighter safety, saying the project used a $1 million Illinois capital grant plus city funds and long-term bonds.
Urbana officials and firefighters on Thursday formally opened a new fire station that city leaders say will speed response times and improve health and safety for crews.
Deputy Chief Steve Dob, speaking for the Urbana Fire Department, welcomed the crowd and called the building “your new fire station,” thanking city staff, council members and volunteers who worked on the project. Mayor Williams said the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity provided a $1 million capital grant and that the city supplemented state funding with city resources and long-term bonds rather than drawing down the general fund.
The station includes modern apparatus bays sized for current engines, dedicated training and meeting rooms, improved ventilation and decontamination areas and living quarters intended for 24-hour shifts, officials said. Those features are intended to reduce occupational exposures, support on-the-job training and help crews rest between calls.
"For us, this is more than just a new address," Lieutenant Andrew Stewart said on behalf of the department, adding that the upgraded safety features and design will help firefighters “be the best for you.”
Mayor Williams described the project as a multidecade investment in public safety, saying the design emphasizes energy-efficiency to reduce long-term operating costs and that annual operating costs will be modest and predictable. The mayor also thanked state lawmakers and city staff for their roles in bringing the project to fruition.
Retired Chief Michael Dilly delivered an invocation and the Urbana Firefighters Honor Guard presented colors and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of the ceremony.
Organizers concluded the formal program with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting and invited attendees to tour the station and speak with firefighters; refreshments were provided.
The city did not provide a detailed breakdown of the full construction cost at the ceremony; officials said bonds and city resources covered the remainder but did not specify amounts. The station is scheduled to begin normal operations immediately following the opening and will house crews who will respond to calls across Urbana.
