Metro East Sun

In an Aug. 18 Facebook post, Rep. Mike Coffey thanked the Springfield Fire Department for its commitment to safety. The city's budget for the 2024 fiscal year includes three new firehouses.

"Thank you Springfield Illinois Fire Department for your commitment to keep our communities safe!" Coffey said. "The NEW firehouses will reinforce emergency responses in the 95th District."

In his Facebook post, Rep. Coffey shared a link to a Springfield Fire Department Facebook post about the announcement of the three new firehouses. Springfield Fire wrote: “Big news for Springfield! With the approval of the FY2024 budget, we’re excited to announce that three new firehouses will soon become a reality, including the much-anticipated Fire Station #8! This addition will undoubtedly bolster our city’s emergency response capabilities and make our community an even safer place to live. #SpringfieldFireDepartment #NewBeginnings #FireStation8”

A Jan. 27 report from Newschannel 20 announced the budgetary allowance for the three new firehouses. The cost of the three new stations is about $18 million. Two firehouses will replace the current stations, and the third will be new, according to the news station. These buildings will be located “on 11th and Ash, Rickard Road, and Lawrence Avenue which will replace Station 8 and a brand-new Station 13 on Woodside Road and Route 4 between Springfield and Chatham.” The news station spoke with Chief Brandon Blough, who said: "We’re excited. It’s been a long time coming...When you’re talking about fires or strokes or heart attacks, especially significant serious medical issues, you want to get there as fast as you can, and right now, we’re not able to get there as fast as we’d like to,”

A March 15 report from Fox Illinois notes that the “goal is to have the new firehouses up and running by Spring 2024.” The news outlet also spoke with Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder. “Previously the response time is anywhere from six to eight minutes or can take up to that timeframe, where the rest of the city enjoys a four-minute response time,” Langfelder said.

The city held a groundbreaking ceremony for two of the three fire stations in mid-April, according to the State Journal-Register. That ceremony was for the two stations that will replace the existing stations.