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21 June 2024
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Fire stations of the world: Andover Fire-Rescue Service’s new Fire Station 2, Kansas, US
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The Andover Fire-Rescue moved into its new 12 000 square foot Fire Station 2 in November 2023, located off Minneha Avenue and Andover Road, Kansas in the US. The new station is years in the making. Talks of the station began in the early 2000s. “Our community and our elected officials have been absolutely extremely supportive from the very beginning. You know the way the community is paying for this fire station is through a sales tax,” said Andover Fire Chief Chad Russell.
Chief Russell says the new facility is equipped for cancer prevention, including a place to clean off chemicals. He adds that it’s a new way of building stations. “Back then, we were seen as really forward thinkers trying to be able to talk about another fire station. Now, it’s certainly a necessity. This station is really going to be able to decrease response times for a large portion of our city and a large portion of our fire district,” said Chief Russell.
“We broke ground on it in October 2022, so they’ve been working on this and building it for the last year,” Megan Schapaugh, public information officer for the city of Andover, said. “Firefighters started moving in a couple of months ago, but we are finally having our big grand opening.”
The grand opening on 18 April 2024 was open to the public. Students from Prairie Creek Elementary School were able to tour the new fire station. “They’ve been taking tours throughout the day today to see the new fire station,” Schapaugh said.
Having the second fire station will be an important piece for the City of Andover as it continues to grow. “As Andover continues to grow, it’s important to just add another fire station to help the community stay safe and keep everyone safe,” Schapaugh said.
On 28 November 2017, the Andover Governing Body received the Comprehensive Analysis of Fire Services for the City completed by Citygate Associates, LLC. This analysis recommended the construction of a second fire station in order to improve life-safety services within the City of Andover.
For reference, the current Fire Station #1 (1,500 SF) was constructed in 1994 when the population of Andover was approximately 5 000. As of the 2020 Census, the City's current population is 14 892. Andover Fire-Rescue responded to 261 calls for service in 1994 and the current annual average for service are 1 700. Further, Fire Station #1 was not designed to house emergency personnel for 24 hours or any emergency medical service staff. Currently, Andover Fire-Rescue is a 24-hour department and includes housing of ambulance services provided by Butler County, resulting in overnight staffing. In 1994, the Department consisted of seven apparatus and the current fleet includes 13 apparatus.
Following the completion of the Comprehensive Analysis of Fire Services, Andover Fire-Rescue and multiple other City department staff evaluated multiple potential sites for the second fire station, ultimately completing the purchase of an approximately three-acre site at the northeast corner of Minneha Avenue and Andover Road.
This new fire station will provide better response times to not only the south end of the City and eastern portion of Fire District #1 but to the entire City. A substantial amount of the Department's response area will now be able to be reached within four minutes, which is critical once an emergency is reported. Additionally, the new station will allow for all administrative services (Chiefs, Fire Prevention, Training, etc) to be moved from the existing Fire Station #1 allowing more functional space and adequate living conditions for Andover firefighters.
Sources: Andover Fire-Rescue Service, KSN News
Chief Russell says the new facility is equipped for cancer prevention, including a place to clean off chemicals. He adds that it’s a new way of building stations. “Back then, we were seen as really forward thinkers trying to be able to talk about another fire station. Now, it’s certainly a necessity. This station is really going to be able to decrease response times for a large portion of our city and a large portion of our fire district,” said Chief Russell.
“We broke ground on it in October 2022, so they’ve been working on this and building it for the last year,” Megan Schapaugh, public information officer for the city of Andover, said. “Firefighters started moving in a couple of months ago, but we are finally having our big grand opening.”
The grand opening on 18 April 2024 was open to the public. Students from Prairie Creek Elementary School were able to tour the new fire station. “They’ve been taking tours throughout the day today to see the new fire station,” Schapaugh said.
Having the second fire station will be an important piece for the City of Andover as it continues to grow. “As Andover continues to grow, it’s important to just add another fire station to help the community stay safe and keep everyone safe,” Schapaugh said.
On 28 November 2017, the Andover Governing Body received the Comprehensive Analysis of Fire Services for the City completed by Citygate Associates, LLC. This analysis recommended the construction of a second fire station in order to improve life-safety services within the City of Andover.
For reference, the current Fire Station #1 (1,500 SF) was constructed in 1994 when the population of Andover was approximately 5 000. As of the 2020 Census, the City's current population is 14 892. Andover Fire-Rescue responded to 261 calls for service in 1994 and the current annual average for service are 1 700. Further, Fire Station #1 was not designed to house emergency personnel for 24 hours or any emergency medical service staff. Currently, Andover Fire-Rescue is a 24-hour department and includes housing of ambulance services provided by Butler County, resulting in overnight staffing. In 1994, the Department consisted of seven apparatus and the current fleet includes 13 apparatus.
Following the completion of the Comprehensive Analysis of Fire Services, Andover Fire-Rescue and multiple other City department staff evaluated multiple potential sites for the second fire station, ultimately completing the purchase of an approximately three-acre site at the northeast corner of Minneha Avenue and Andover Road.
This new fire station will provide better response times to not only the south end of the City and eastern portion of Fire District #1 but to the entire City. A substantial amount of the Department's response area will now be able to be reached within four minutes, which is critical once an emergency is reported. Additionally, the new station will allow for all administrative services (Chiefs, Fire Prevention, Training, etc) to be moved from the existing Fire Station #1 allowing more functional space and adequate living conditions for Andover firefighters.
Sources: Andover Fire-Rescue Service, KSN News
